USA Hockey announced their preliminary roster for the 2026 World Junior Championships on Monday. The Capitols have two players, one current and one alumni, on the roster trying to compete for a spot on the final team later this month.
Caleb Heil is in his second season with the Capitols and is the only active USHL player to be named to the preliminary roster for Team USA. Heil has a 10-4-0-2 record with a 2.60 goals against average, and a .891 save percentage this season for the Capitols. Heil has collected points in each of his past seven starts for Madison allowing only three goals or less in each. All time while representing his country, Heil has a record of 9-1-0-0 including appearances at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, World U18 Championships, and at the World Junior A Challenge.Â
Ryker Lee is in his first season with Michigan State. The former Capitols forward was named USHL Rookie of the Year for the 2024-25 season after registering 68 points in his first and only full season in the USHL. In his freshman campaign with the Spartans, Lee has picked up 13 points in 14 games. His Spartans were ranked third in the latest USCHO poll. The former Capitol became the first player in team history to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft when he was selected by Nashville this summer.
Heil and Lee will compete to make Team USA's roster that will compete in the Twin Cities from December 26, 2025-January 5, 2026. Both players will be returning to Minnesota to play. Heil is from Victoria, Minnesota, and played youth hockey with the Chaska-Chanhassen program. Although from Illinois, Lee played at Shattuck St. Mary's up until the spring of 2024. Shattuck St. Mary's is located in Faribault, Minnesota.
Training camp for the 2026 World Junior team will convene at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minnesota, from Dec. 15-23. The final roster is expected to be announced by Dec. 24. Team USA has medaled in eight of the last ten tournaments, including gold in 2024 and 2025.
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