When the puck drops at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, to be held Dec. 26-Jan. 5, a number of NCAA players are expected to be top performers for their countries.
As is the case every year, the United States will field a team made up almost exclusively of college players, most of whom have been drafted by NHL teams. NCAA players on the rosters of the other nine nations are not as prevalent.
Defending gold medalist Canada, which historically relies on Canadian Hockey League players at the WJC, had one NCAA player on its roster last year.
Adam Fantilli of the University of Michigan scored the game-winning goal in Canada's 6-2 win against the United States in the semifinals. He went on to be selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets with the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and now is playing a top-line role in the NHL.
This year, another college player, Boston University freshman forward Macklin Celebrini, is expected to be a go-to player for Canada and is the favorite to be the first pick of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Here are 10 NCAA players who are expected to be impact players at the 2024 WJC, which will be broadcast by NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.
Trey Augustine, G, United States
Augustine played six of seven games for the U.S. at the 2023 WJC, going 4-1-0 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.
He is off to a strong start as a Michigan State freshman, going 11-3 with two ties, a 2.97 GAA, .916 save percentage and one shutout
The Detroit Red Wings selected him in the second round (No. 41) in the 2023 draft.
Macklin Celebrini, F, Canada
Celebrini is the youngest player in college hockey at 17, but he's needed no adjustment period at BU. He is third among NCAA skaters with 25 points (10 goals, 15 assists) in 15 games.
He is a dynamic offensive player who projects as a No. 1 center in the NHL.
Cutter Gauthier, F, United States
Known for his wicked wrist shot, Gauthier had a strong 2023 WJC with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games.
The sophomore center at Boston College has 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 17 games. He is tied for second among NCAA players in goals and power-play goals (six), and is tied for first in shots on goal (94) and game-winning goals (five).
He was chosen by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round (No. 5) of the 2022 NHL Draft.
Michael Hrabal, G, Czechia
The big (6-foot-6, 209 pounds) freshman goalie is 7-3 with one tie, a 2.67 GAA, .905 save percentage and one shutout while playing 12 of 16 games at the University of Massachusetts. With all three of Czechia's goalies from the 2023 WJC gone, Hrabal will have a chance to play a significant role this year.
He was picked by the Arizona Coyotes in the second round (No. 38) of the 2023 draft.
Lane Hutson, D, United States
A sophomore defenseman at Boston University, Hutson had four points (one goal, three assists) in seven games at the 2023 WJC.
He has 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists) in 15 NCAA games this season. Last season he led Hockey East with 48 points (15 goals, 33 assists) in 39 games and was a Hobey Baker Award finalist.
Hutson was selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the second round (No. 62) in the 2022 draft.
Dans Locmelis, F, Latvia
Playing in the tournament for the third time, Locmelis figures to be one of his country's top forwards. He scored three goals in six games at the 2023 WJC.
Locmelis has five points (four goals, one assist) in 12 games as a freshman at Massachusetts.
He was selected by the Boston Bruins in the fourth round (No. 119) of the 2022 draft.
Gabe Perreault, F, United States
Perrault has displayed his elite skill and hockey IQ during his freshman season at Boston College and is tied for third among NCAA players with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 17 games.
He was selected by the New York Rangers in the first round (No. 23) in the 2023 draft.
Jimmy Snuggerud, F, United States
A right wing whose best asset is his shot, Snuggerud was second in scoring for the United States at the 2023 WJC with 13 points (five goals, eight assists) in seven games and will be counted on to be an offensive leader again.
He has 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 18 games as a sophomore at the University of Minnesota.
Snuggerud was picked by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (No. 23) in the 2022 draft.
Maxim Strbak, D, Slovakia
This will be the third time Strbak, a freshman at Michigan State, has represented his country at World Juniors. He had three assists in five games at the 2023 WJC.
He has five points (one goal, four assists) in 15 NCAA games this season.
The Buffalo Sabres picked Strbak in the second round (No. 45) in the 2023 draft.
Tom Willander, D, Sweden
A freshman at Boston University, Willander plays a solid, no-frills style and has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 15 games.
Willander was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round (No. 11) in the 2023 draft.
