LA Kings prospect Hampton Slukynsky ready for his net at Western Michigan

PLYMOUTH, Michigan – One of the foregone conclusions about the American team at the 2025 World Junior Championship is that it’s Trey Augustine’s net, and will be for the biggest games in Ottawa in December and January. 

“I think we all know unless something completely unexpected happens, yeah, it’ll be him in the medal games,” Team USA general manager John Vanbiesbrouck said leading up to the World Junior Summer Showcase.

And it makes sense. Augustine, a Detroit Red Wings prospect, has been the American starter at the World Juniors for the past two editions and represented the United States at a senior level this past spring in the IIHF World Championships. 

When it comes to evaluating goalies this week in Plymouth, it’s simply a question of which other two goalies will back up Augustine afte