North Dakota Hockey Players Garner Spots on U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster
GRAND FORKS, N.D. – university of North Dakota sophomore defenseman EJ Emery and incoming goaltender Caleb Heil have been selected for the 28-man preliminary roster of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team, USA Hockey announced Monday.The pair will now compete for a place on the final 25-player team that will represent the United States at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
This selection marks a notable prospect for both players to showcase their talent on an international stage. The World Junior Championship is a prestigious tournament drawing NHL scouts and offering a crucial development experience for aspiring professional hockey players. Emery and Heil will participate in a competitive camp as the U.S. seeks to continue its recent success – having medaled in eight of the last ten tournaments, including gold in both 2024 and 2025. The final roster will be revealed by December 24th.
emery has been a consistent presence on the Fighting Hawks’ blue line this season, appearing in 13 of 14 games. The Compton, California native has recorded two goals and two assists for four points, including a two-goal performance against Minnesota, and currently holds a team-second plus-5 rating among defensemen.
Heil, currently playing for madison in the USHL, boasts a 10-4-0 record with a 2.60 goals-against average and a .891 save percentage, along with one shutout. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round of the NHL Draft this past June – the first UND goaltender selected since 2016 – and contributed to a preseason shootout win for the Lightning in September.
“We’re excited about the group of players we’ve named,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team and USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations. “Its always difficult to narrow it down, but we’re set for what we know will be a vrey competitive camp that will help us get to our final roster.”
