By Warren Kozireski —
USA Hockey has named 29 players to the preliminary roster of its 2024 U.S. National Junior Team with four from New York State included. The group, which includes eight members of the bronze medal-winning 2023 U.S. National Junior Team, will gather for a training camp at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., from Dec. 14-16.
Players are auditioning for a spot on the final 25-player roster that will represent the United States in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2023–Jan. 5, 2024, in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Two defensemen are listed in Pearl River native Drew Fortescue and Buffalo’s Patrick Geary.
Fortescue was drafted by the New York Rangers in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft in June. The 6’2”, 170 lb. Boston College traditional freshman has three goals while playing in each of the Eagles first 16 games this season and is tied for second on the team in plus/minus at +7.
Geary is a 6’1”, 175 lb. freshman with the resurging Michigan State Spartans, ranked seventh in the country as of Dec. 4. The St. Francis High School and Buffalo Jr. Sabres product has three goals on just ten shots along with three assists over his first ten games this season. He is NHL draft eligible in 2024.
At forward, 2023 second round Anaheim Ducks draft pick Cary Terrance and Hauppauge’s James Hagens will try to make the final roster.
The speedy Terrance, a 6’1”, 179 lb. center, is in his third season with the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League, where he had 20 goals with 12 assists over the first 26 games in 2023-24.
Hagens, the youngest player invited having just turned 17 years old, is playing with the U.S. National Under-18 Team and is not NHL draft eligible until 2025. The 5’10, 168 lb. center and Boston College 2025-26 commit has a combined 17 goals with 32 assists in 29 games this season.
Team USA will play its preliminary games against Group B opponents Czechia, Norway, Slovakia and Switzerland. Group A includes Canada, Finland, Germany, Latvia and Sweden.
