Capitals Prospects Aim for World Junior Glory
The Washington Capitals are bustling with young talent, and two of their prized prospects are gearing up for a shot at international glory. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team, heading to Plymouth, Michigan for a competitive selection camp ahead of the prestigious World Junior Championship.
Leonard, already a World Juniors champion, is eager to defend Team USA’s gold medal. He reflected on the significance of representing his country:
"You obviously never really know when the last time you’re gonna put on that USA sweater, so can’t really take it for granted. I want to be a good leader for this team and try to do something special, for sure."
The 19-year-old forward has been lighting up the NCAA hockey scene with Boston College, racking up an impressive 17 points (11 goals, 6 assists) in just 13 games this season. His goal-scoring prowess was evident during last year’s World Juniors, where he netted three goals, including a crucial one in the championship game against Sweden.
Team USA’s camp roster for world junior pic.twitter.com/lPVxSGOPgO
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) December 2, 2024
Leonard was the Capitals’ eighth overall pick in the 2023 NHL draft and is expected to join the Capitals after his sophomore season with the Eagles.
Joining Leonard in the camp will be fellow Capitals prospect and freshman defender Cole Hutson, who has been turning heads at Boston University with 10 points in his first 14 NCAA contests. The 18-year-old blueliner has a family history of success at the World Juniors, with his older brother Lane having secured gold with Team USA last year.
Hutson already has shiny international pedigree, earning a silver medal and ranking second in scoring for Team USA at the Under-18 World Championship.
The selection camp, held from December 16-17, will see 28 players vying for 25 spots on the final roster. With Leonard and Hutson in the mix, Washington fans have reason to be excited about the future of their franchise. The World Juniors tournament itself will take place in Ottawa, Canada, late December.
Beyond the Capitals duo, several other Cap prospects have landed invites to their respective national team camps. Andrew Cristall and Cam Allen will compete for Canada, while Petr Sikora will try out for the Czech Republic and Miroslav Satan Jr. for Slovakia. The Capitals could have an even stronger international presence if Leon Muggli (Switzerland) and Eriks Mateiko (Latvia) are invited to their national teams.
Capitals prospects Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team. https://t.co/5wGWLWvic9
— CapitalsPR (@CapitalsPR) December 2, 2024
The World Juniors traditionally represent a pivotal showcase for young hockey talent, offering a stage for players to shine and elevate their draft stock. With several Capitals prospects aiming for roster spots, the coming weeks will be crucial for Washington’s pipeline of future stars.
