BREAKING: The preliminary roster for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship has just been announced, featuring three standout players from Minnesota. Among the 28 names are Max Plante and Adam Kleber, both of the Minnesota Duluth men’s hockey program, along with A.J. Reyelts, a promising goaltender from Proctor.
This year’s tournament will take place from December 26, 2026, to January 5, 2026, at the Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and the 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis. The U.S. National Junior Team will hold pre-tournament camps and games at Amsoil Arena in Duluth from December 15 to 23, where they will face Finland and Germany.
Both Plante and Kleber are returning players, having contributed to Team USA’s gold medal victory in 2025 in Ottawa. Plante, a dynamic winger drafted in the second round by the Detroit Red Wings, leads the NCAA with 13 goals and 13 assists this season. He currently shares the top point total in the nation.
Kleber, a towering 6-foot-5 defenseman selected by the Buffalo Sabres, is recognized for his defensive prowess, holding a stellar plus-14 rating and averaging over 21 minutes of ice time per game. Both players are set to make a significant impact on the ice.
Meanwhile, A.J. Reyelts, who plays for the Penticton Vees in the Western Hockey League, is one of just three goalies on the preliminary roster. The 6-foot-2 rookie has a record of 10-4-5 this season, boasting a .901 save percentage and a 2.62 goals against average. Although Reyelts has yet to represent his country, he was named the 2024 News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year after leading the Proctor Rails to 19 wins last season.
The anticipation builds as the final 25-player roster will be revealed by December 24, according to USA Hockey. Fans can catch Team USA in action during two pre-tournament games at Amsoil Arena: against Germany on December 21 at 4 p.m. and against Finland on December 23 at 6 p.m.
Don’t miss the chance to support these talented Minnesota athletes as they aim for another gold medal on home turf! Stay tuned for more updates as the tournament approaches.
