GRAND FORKS, N.D. (Valley News Live) -University of North Dakota defenseman EJ Emery has been selected for Team USA’s preliminary roster for the 2026 World Junior Championship, positioning himself for a chance to compete on home soil as the United States pursues a historic three-peat.
With just 24 days until the tournament begins, excitement is building for the World Junior Championship hosted in Minnesota. The United States enters the competition looking to capture their third consecutive title, this time with the advantage of playing on home ice.
The preliminary roster, released today, features 28 of the best college and junior hockey players in the country. Emery, a California native and sophomore at UND, earned his spot among this elite group after a solid start to the season.
The young defenseman has contributed four points through the early portion of the season, recording two goals and two assists. Notably, Emery has already notched one game-winning goal, demonstrating his ability to perform in clutch situations—a valuable trait for international competition.
Emery and his fellow preliminary roster members will have their chance to secure a spot on the final 25-man roster during training camp in Duluth. The camp runs from December 15-23, where coaches will make the difficult decisions to trim the roster down to the final group that will represent the United States.
For Emery, the opportunity represents a chance to compete at hockey’s premier junior level while helping Team USA make history. A third consecutive World Junior Championship would cement this group’s place among the most successful teams in tournament history.
The tournament’s Minnesota location adds extra significance for the North Dakota defenseman, as he’ll have the chance to compete relatively close to his college home while representing his country on the international stage.
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