A World Junior Summer Showcase primer
Ahead of USA Hockey hosting the 2023 World Junior Summer Showcase, here's a look at the players, the teams and the stakes
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas in July, a.k.a. the World Junior Summer Showcase. The best junior hockey players in the US, Sweden and Finland will converge on USA Hockey Arena for nine-days of games, practices and scrimmages. This is where players mount their bids for an invite to December’s final training camp, and with it a spot in the 2024 World Junior Championship in Sweden.
That list includes plenty of representatives from Michigan Hockey and its opponents this upcoming season. Here are those names, some notes on their games and what they’ll look to accomplish in Plymouth starting this weekend.
Michigan
RD Seamus Casey
In December, Casey made the final Team USA headed to the Maritimes, but he sat out as a reserve player on a roster full of active defensemen. Yet, with just two returning D from the 2023 bronze medal squad, a full-time spot is right there for Casey to grab.
Against the rest of the field, his skating and playmaking stand out as major assets, but his defensive buy-in is what will give him a full-time role. Thanks to all the other D who can activate, the Americans don’t have a problem generating offense from the blue line or springing transition plays. That’s a tenet of the NTDP that nearly all its alums are capable of matching. Casey is among the best, especially in transition due to his willingness to lug the puck out with his fast skating but also his talent in finding open teammates.
But what offers Casey a chance to play a primetime role this tournament is his ability to defend in transition. This was an area that 2023 coach Rand Pecknold tried to coach Casey in last December, and it’s also one that he made great strides in despite an injury in the second half of the season. Continuing that growth should help Casey stand out.
C/RW Gavin Brindley
Brindley wasn’t really expected to make the 2023 USA squad, but he played a big fourth-line role and gained a ton of confidence at last year’s tournament. He’s an example of why caution must be emphasized when relating this camp roster to December’s decisions. He wasn’t invited to last summer’s National Junior Evaluation Camp because Team USA prioritized older players for the 2022 tournament in August, slashing the number of 2023 hopefuls who could try out. Brindley was one of those lost in the fray.
Then, in December, he showed off his quick feet and transition ability, the latter of which he developed around Thanksgiving and never looked back. Those are his bread and butter, and that’s what could get the undersized forward to Sweden in the 2024 tournament.
LD Tyler Duke
Duke has similar offensive charm to Casey and other mobile defensemen, but he gets his points by playing like a wrecking ball more than a scalpel. He’s small but feisty, much like his big brother, and that can cause him to overcommit. It can also lead to big-time goals for his team, such as those he scored in multiple outings against Michigan last season.
There’s a lot more ground to cover for him to bring the defending up to par, but Duke got some valuable coaching at Tampa Bay’s development camp. His brother showed how much an impact those lessons, combined with other coaching, can have on a player’s versatility. Like I mentioned earlier, there’s a lot of activators on this USA blue line — that’s an identity move. But getting a spot on this American roster likely comes down to who’s less of a liability on the back end. Duke needs to prove that he isn’t one.
LW/C Rutger McGroarty
Heavy and bold, McGroarty can generate a lot of space for his linemates. He played a big time net front role on the power play last tournament, using a nifty little backhand pass to feed one-timers. That’s a skill in desperate need with the loss of net wizard Dylan Duke.
McGroarty could benefit from generating more offense from his own stick, but he’s humble enough to feed the hot hand when attacking. Team play makes him a valuable linemate who can play up and down the lineup, in addition to the way he can play opponents with his size.
There are some other big boys at forward who USA Hockey gave invites — Charlie Stramel, Devin Kaplan, or Danny Nelson, for example. I don’t think the commonality of size means McGroarty is in a tougher spot. I assume McGroarty’s position on this squad is safe considering his experience on last year’s team, but there are never guarantees.
C Frank Nazar III
If not for an injury that cost him last December’s tournament, Sweden 2024 might’ve been the third World Juniors trip that Nazar made. He traveled to Edmonton for the 2022 summer tournament, in large part thanks to his two-way play and speed. He didn’t make the final roster, though, and was soon injured during offseason training, which cost him 2023’s tournament.
But that should have little impact on Nazar’s position for this 2024 squad. He’s a capable center who can defend like a dog in his own D-zone. Michigan coach Brandon Naurato told reporters that there’s no reason Nazar “rival what Adam Fantilli did last year” in 2023-24. I don’t know how much of that is pageantry or truth because I haven’t seen the summer gains for myself, but Plymouth should give Nazar a chance to prove where he’s at with an offseason to fully recover from his previous injury.
In terms of the final roster, I think Nazar’s hard to beat out. He’s a determined defender who can kill penalties or spring rush plays at even strength. His skating is also among the best and means he’s able to play at any level of competition thrown his way. For these reasons, I think there’s a high probability that he makes the final roster.
Michigan State
G Trey Augustine
Augustine might be the only Spartan on the USA roster, but he’s probably the most important player in this article. He’s an unshakeable goaltender, with quick reflexes and a competitive fire.
A returner from 2023, Augustine was so good last tournament that he stole the starting job from two-year starter Kaidan Mbereko. This is Augustine’s crease to lose, though Andrew Oke and Tyler Muszelik were right there with him ahead of last year’s tournament. This showcase is a walkthrough for him, and he’ll be a lot more interesting when December grows near.
LW Isaac Howard
Last season wasn’t at all indicative of the role Howard might carve out in college, and some of the tools he can utilize — his skating, primarily — should bring him success at an international tournament.
This season is about getting right for Howard, and this summer should be a good introduction to any changes he might’ve made this offseason. Playing what presumes to be a big-time role for a far better Michigan State team, Howard has a chance to gain some confidence that Minnesota-Duluth’s play couldn’t offer him last season. If he rides that into the December camp, he might earn a spot on Team USA. The tools are there compared to his peers at this camp — it’s just about who maximizes them.
Minnesota
RD Ryan Chesley
With Chesley and Casey on the right side, USA shouldn’t worry about transition from its defenders. The former was a contributor on a deep and experience Minnesota blue line last season despite being a freshman. His on-the-fly decisions in the O-zone would make an air traffic controller blush, but his D-zone play could use some help. Chesley is also someone who isn’t afraid to play in the hard areas, which should benefit him in relation to other D invitees.
The only caveat is that international play depends so much on transition and special teams — the best of the best are really hard to beat when numbers are even. His struggles to exit the zone might be major roadblocks that impede his teammates.
Those traits should shape Chesley’s role, though I don’t think they preclude him from the roster. Much the opposite, actually. I envision Chesley being part of an offense-first unit that can run a power play and make the right plays in the O-zone. He doesn’t need to be a shutdown defender so much as polish that side of his game, and there’s plenty of time for him to do that before December. Especially with a larger role for the Gophers, he should improve in those aspects.
LW/C Cole Eiserman
A top-three projected draft pick, Eiserman will play one more year for the NTDP before skating for Minnesota in 2024-25. He’s got the type of shot that makes goaltenders flinch, and his game centers around his ability to use it.
There isn’t another pure goal scorer like Eiserman except for maybe Ryan Leonard, and Eiserman outscored him when combining all levels of play last season. There’s a caveat there that Leonard played a much harder U-18 schedule, but goals are goals on the box score, and Eiserman plies his trade by making goalies miss.
While he’s on the younger side, Eiserman should have a good shot at making this tournament’s team thanks to that shot. There’s just not a lot of shooters that can score at will like he can, and that makes him a major asset for the Americans to utilize.
C Oliver Moore
A rising freshman and Chicago draft pick who has a healthy rivalry with Frank Nazar, Moore is an exceptional skater. It’s easy to get lost in hyperbole during draft season, but some EP Rinkside scouts say he’s one of the fastest they’ve seen. But speed only goes so far, and Moore backs it up with agility that takes him all over the ice.
One benefit of such quick skates is that Moore can find plays that a slower player can’t. That’s not just because he gets there first, but he can also trust himself to take the occasional risk and get back in time to defend if the play goes south. That’s not to say he makes a habit of risky plays, but rather that he’s got abilities to pull them off when necessary.
In making international rosters, a really good skill can earn the admiration of coaches. Dylan Duke did it with his screening. For Gavin Brindley, his motor mixed with speed. Team USA will probably look at ways to exploit Moore’s speed and make him a weapon come December.
RW Jimmy Snuggerud
Playmaking scorers such as Logan Cooley and Adam Fantilli get a lot of hype in college hockey. It’s easy to see points and get saucer eyes. But Jimmy Snuggerud played a huge role stirring the pot last season to get Cooley going, often as the secondary playmaker. He had to recognize what Cooley and linemate Matthew Knies wanted to do with the puck, then deliver it seamlessly. Snuggerud thrived in that role to round out college hockey’s best line.
As a returner, Snuggerud has an inside track to make the 2024 squad, but his ability to drive from the passenger seat, so to speak, makes him a really intriguing linemate. The easy solution is to put him back with Cutter Gauthier and Logan Cooley (not at camp but likely to be on the December roster). That trio was USA’s heartbeat in the Maritimes. But could splitting that group to elevate other teammates also work?
Snuggerud creates options even if he’s not the principle player on a line. At risk of suggesting he fades into the background, Snuggerud is able to play a complementary role rather than a primary one, and sometimes one great teammate/setup man can have a greater impact than a single lights-out scorer.
RD Sam Rinzel
After spending his draft-plus-one season with USHL Waterloo, Rinzel showed he can hang in the USHL despite some criticisms of his game coming out of high school. He’s far more effective on offense than in his own end, which could affect his ability to make Team USA. As I’ve droned on about, the defenders who show they can actually defend should be in good positions in December.
While Minnesota’s blue line lost a lot of bodies to the pros this offseason, I think Rinzel might be deployed in a similar manner to Luke Mittelstadt in 2022-23 — that is, playing as seventh skater and playing limited, offense-heavy minutes. The two share some of the same risks and rewards, and that prescription paid off in spades for Mittelstadt. But playing that role in international play can be tricky.
Rinzel lacks an established track record compared to many of the repeat invitees, and I think that makes his case an uphill climb — especially if his defense continues to struggle. But players who get counted out can make big impressions if they deliver, and that list might include Rinzel.
Notre Dame
LD Paul Fischer
For the abundance of offensive archetypes on USA’s blue line, Fischer provides balance in a shutdown role. That should make him a big contributor for the Irish, but also a commodity for the Americans. Should they choose to construct a diverse blue line, his ability to clamp down makes him a major asset.
But overall contributions don’t just mean defensive success. Rather, coaches are going to look at the net advantages of a player — the sum of contributions minus their shortcomings. For Fischer, he’s able to stop opponents, but he isn’t really a player who generates scoring. Especially for a US program that so heavily focuses on scoring through transition and special teams, Fischer isn’t really elite in either of those areas.
That shouldn’t discourage, however, his ability to bring a penalty-killing and lockdown role in late games, a situational usage that might be worth a roster spot. He’s certainly more trustworthy in these situations than a large majority of the field. and perhaps USA coaches will see that, too.
C Cole Knuble
The son of Michigan alumnus and NHL veteran Mike Knuble, Cole Knuble played last season as a critical playmaker with USHL Fargo. I’m not the most familiar with his game, but EP Rinkside reported a huge growth in his give-and-go sharing of the puck. That suggests he made an impact when his teammates ran the play, still creating offense even when he was off the puck.
Those playmaking skills will need to show up at the international level, because offense is rarely generated from a solo effort. If he shows that he can keep up the habits he showed with Fargo, that might help him make a case to join this roster.
My hesitation toward Knuble is criticism of his skating, but I won’t delve too much into that because I haven’t seen him skate. A lot of prospect discourse throws darts at traits for strengths and weaknesses, and I doubt his skating will severely harm him at the college/junior level.
C/LW Danny Nelson
2024 USA coach David Carle loves hard workers — who doesn’t — and that’s one of Nelson’s better attributes away from his abilities with the puck. Those intangibles can help him stand out from a crowded field.
EP Rinkside gave him high marks for transition play, while The Hockey Writers paid respect to his shot while raising concerns about his skating. On an American team likely to feature quick skaters that activate quickly out of the defensive third, Nelson might be the facilitator that ties together a line. Picture him feeding someone like Gavin Brindley off the wing, skating to the net off-speed and cashing in on a rebound or Royal Road pass.
That’s an example for examples’ sake — I haven’t seen this team together and I’m not sure what relationship exists between the two. But no matter the name on the back of the jersey, Nelson can stir the pot for his linemates, which he should get a chance to show in this camp.
Wisconsin
LD Zach Schulz
The NTDP manufactures offensive defensemen in assembly line fashion, but Schulz is a rare model. He puts more of his weight into lugging the puck up ice on the rush rather than making a stretch pass. He didn’t find the scoresheet most nights — just 10 points in 52 U18 games — but the process was established if the outcome might not reflect it.
There are two obvious outcomes in Schulz’s style. He can bait defenders and make that rare cross-ice pass. But I argue that this also has significant risks: by holding the puck for longer, Schulz opens himself up to making mistakes as opponents ramp up the pressure on the forecheck. If an opposing F1 wedges his stick into the passing lane or uses his body to hinder Schulz, he might give up a high-danger opportunity.
The point of Team USA’s pass-heavy blue line is that the puck is never in the same place, and it’s hard to effectively pressure any one skater under those circumstances. Schulz plays it differently, but that doesn’t preclude him from the roster. He just adds a different flavor to the mix that coaches might pay a closer mind toward.
LW Quinn Finley
Players who mix above-average speed and a good shot can make a big difference at any level, and Finley fits the bill. Scouts ranging across multiple publications praised his hard work, which means that wasn’t just one person being enamored by a couple play pursuits. Vying for his last spot on a World Juniors team, I’m curious how that determination may factor into Finley’s tryout.
Finley’s description sort of reminds me of Noah Laba, a hardworking center out of Colorado College who earned the respect of 2023 USA coach Rand Pecknold. Laba booked his ticket to the Maritimes off that work, and though he only got into one game, that was still a major coup for a player who was essentially invited to Plymouth as an easier cut. 2024 coach David Carle and Pecknold likely hold different priorities, but Laba is an example of what a good showing can cause.
Can Finley reproduce that sort of underdog magic? The path toward that starts right now with a good summer audition — and probably a few rush goals for good measure.
C Will Whitelaw
Quick skating, a high-skill release and plenty of stickhandling tools to keep plays alive — Whitelaw could be an excellent offensive contributor. But the noise around Whitelaw suggests that he’s not a great locker room guy, to say the least. Just read this passage from EP Rinkside’s “industry chatter” section, which is usually where pro scouts share their unreserved beliefs under the almight power of anonymity:
“There’s a reason he was left off the World Junior-A challenge team. It has nothing to do with his hockey abilities. He thinks ‘I am better than all of you guys. My teammates suck.’ Add in that he’s small. Not a fun guy to put your name on the line with.”
I’ve never met Whitelaw. I’ve never been in the locker room with him. I don’t know if this is an accurate assessment. But it does raise questions as to how he can fit in on a deep, talented USA team that’s more about the jersey crest than the nameplate.
I’ll hedge the above chatter by noting that it is, as the name suggests, chatter — not fact that scouts would go public with. If Whitelaw was truly locker room cancer, then I’m not sure how he’d be so highly recruited, nor how he’d help lead USHL Youngstown to a Clark Cup. Another alleged cancer in Jack Eichel just helped Vegas win a Stanley Cup and rewrote his narrative.
Even if there’s an underlying attitude problem, those can be checked at the door with a good coach and captain. Criticisms always exist in context, and it’s important to keep that in mind before writing a player off.
C Charlie Stramel
Just looking at his play last season, Stramel left a lot more to be desired. As a two-time World Juniors returnee, he created plays for Gavin Brindley and Kenny Connors in a depth role, all the while checking the hell out of his opponents. But that was the best hockey he played all season, and he struggled mightily for a really bad Badgers team.
I don’t foresee Stramel getting cut in December considering his abundant experience, but I am interested in how he’s utilized. He’s big and not afraid to use it. He can screen thanks to that, which fills an immediate power play need for Team USA. He also appears confident when playing under pressure because he doesn’t get laid out a lot, something that he showed when feeding teammates against Michigan in a surprisingly close Big Ten quarterfinal series in March.
That represents the best of Stramel, but sometimes he can fade into the background. The Americans need him to avoid that and really take a step this year.
RW Cruz Lucius
Remember that Michigan-Wisconsin series? That pinnacle of Big Ten play where both teams just decided “Hey, we don’t really like defending”? Well guess what, that was also a series that showed some of what Lucius could bring this season, too.
He didn’t light the world on fire, but he made a lot of small plays — a well-placed pass here, a pesky check there — to bring the best out of his linemates. That helped his linemate, Mathieu De St. Phalle, torch the Wolverines for five goals in two games.
The Americans could benefit from that brand of Lucius. One who’s deceptive and confident, making opponents miss and then laughing all the way to the assist column. The first showings of those abilities could come this week.