Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson will travel to Plymouth, Michigan, to participate in this year’s Team USA selection camp ahead of the 2025 World Junior Championship. The two Washington Capitals draft picks will audition for a spot on the final 25-man roster that will head to the tournament in late December.
The camp will occur at USA Hockey Arena from December 16-17. The US called up 28 players, meaning they only need to make three cuts before heading for the games in Ottawa.
Team USA won gold at last year’s tournament. Leonard was part of that team and scored a goal in the final against Sweden.
Team USA's camp roster for world junior pic.twitter.com/lPVxSGOPgO
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) December 2, 2024
Leonard, the eighth overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft, had six points (3g, 3a) in seven games as an 18-year-old on the gold-medal-winning team from last year. He’s had a strong start to the 2024-25 NCAA season with the Boston College Eagles, recording 17 points (11g, 6a) in 13 games. His 11 goals are tied for the most in the nation.
The Massachusetts native is expected to sign with the Capitals after his sophomore season with the Eagles is over, but he also had the opportunity to ink a deal with Washington at the end of last year. Leonard turned that chance down partly to ensure another run at a gold medal with this US team.
“75 [percent of the decision was based on that], maybe, honestly,” Leonard said in August. “Because, honestly, if you go play in the NHL, there’s a lot of risk if your team’s really going to let you go. And, if you’re having a good start, they’re not going to risk anything or probably wouldn’t have been able to play.
“You obviously never really know when the last time you’re gonna put on that USA sweater, so can’t really take it for granted. I want to be a good leader for this team and try to do something special, for sure.”
After his junior success last year, Leonard debuted with the senior US team at the 2024 World Championship. He featured in six games and recorded one assist.
Capitals prospects Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. https://t.co/5wGWLWvic9
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 2, 2024
Hutson’s involvement in the camp was leaked late last week. The 18-year-old blueliner was a second-round selection of the Capitals in the 2024 NHL Draft and is currently playing his freshman season at Boston University.
The Missouri native has recorded 10 points (2g, 8a) in his first 14 NCAA games. Hutson’s older brother, Lane, won gold for the US at last year’s tournament.
Hutson has previous experience with Team USA, starring at the most recent U18 World Championship. He ranked second on the team in scoring with 13 points (4g, 9a) in seven games and took home a silver medal.
Leonard and Hutson join fellow Capitals prospects Andrew Cristall (Canada), Cam Allen (Canada), Petr Sikora (Czechia), and Miroslav Satan Jr. (Slovakia) as invitees to their respective nations’ preliminary camps. Washington could also see Leon Muggli (Switzerland) and Eriks Mateiko (Latvia) join that group when their countries announce rosters.
