Projecting what Team North America would look like at the 2028 World Cup of Hockey

The NHL is set to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey in Edmonton, Calgary, and Prague, with the tournament taking place for the first time since 2016.

At that 2016 event, the competition added two interesting, nontraditional teams. Team Europe and Team North America were introduced to the tournament for the first time in any competition.

Team Europe was formed by players who were from European countries that weren’t already represented in the tournament.

As for Team North America, the roster consisted of American and Canadian players under 24. It made for a talented, young, and exciting lineup, featuring the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor Hellebuyck, Jack Eichel, Dylan Larkin, and more.

So, in 2028, what would a Team North America look like if they brought back the team for the upcoming World Cup?

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Forwards:

Logan Cooley - Macklin Celebrini - Will Smith

Gavin McKenna - Connor Bedard - Beckett Sennecke

Adam Fantilli - Ben Kindel - Ryan Leonard

Zach Benson - Michael Misa - Gabriel Perreault

Extras: Calum Ritchie, Porter Martone

This is easily the most talented area of this hypothetical team. With Macklin Celebrini leading the way, who already represented Canada at the Olympics, there is an overload of offensive flair.

Along with Celebrini, the other centerpieces of this forward group include Connor Bedard and Logan Cooley, who are difference-makers for their NHL clubs.

Other names that would catch the opponent’s attention include Beckett Sennecke, who is competing to lead all rookies in scoring this year; the projected 2026 first-overall pick, Gavin McKenna; and Ryan Leonard, a skilled winger who brings a physical element.

And of course, these youngsters are going up against NHL veterans, so the team needs as much experience and spunk as possible. That’s why the likes of Zach Benson, Ryan Leonard, and Adam Fantilli will be key pieces to this team.

With that, Calum Ritchie and Porter Martone make it as extras, a pair of right-handed forwards with size. 

Imagn Images

Defensemen:

Matthew Schaefer - Keaton Verhoeff

Zeev Buium - Zayne Parekh

Cole Hutson - Sam Dickinson

Extra: Landon DuPont

There is a little less depth on the back end for the 2028 Team North America roster. While there is some top-end talent from rookie sensation Matthew Schaefer and even Zeev Buium, the rest of the D-corps will need to develop.

It’s not that the potential isn’t there. Zayne Parekh had 13 points in seven games at the 2026 World Junior Championship, leading all defensemen and third overall in the competition. 

Cole Hutson and Sam Dickinson have had their taste of NHL hockey, Dickinson making 57 appearances this season, while Hutson made his NHL debut on Wednesday. However, they are just scratching the surface of what they can become by the time 2028 rolls around.

The same can be said about Keaton Verhoeff, who is set to be a top-three pick in the 2026 draft. He is projected to be an incredible defenseman, but a lot can change from now to 2028. 

Landon DuPont also falls into that realm of someone expected to be very good in a few years. Granted, DuPont will be 18 in 2028 and can only be drafted in 2027. But with 71 points in 61 WHL games as a 16-year-old D-man, expect DuPont to be in the conversation.

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Goaltenders

Jacob Fowler

Trey Augustine

Extra: Jack Ivankovic

North America has some solid goaltenders coming through the ranks who have made names for themselves at the world juniors.

Jacob Fowler is already competing for a full-time position in the NHL with the Montreal Canadiens. Thanks to his late birthday, he’ll be 23 when the 2028 World Cup comes around, and if there is a Team North America, he's expected not only to make the team but also to be the starting netminder.

Just behind him is fellow American Trey Augustine, who’s been rock-solid in the NCAA for Michigan State University. Over the past three seasons of college hockey, Augustine has averaged a .923 save percentage across 97 appearances. He’d be an undeniable choice for this team.

And finally, Canadian Jack Ivankovic would make up the three goaltenders. Other Canadian netminders, such as Carter George and Joshua Ravensbergen, were in contention to make this team. But Ivankovic has been hanging with Augustine as one of the best goaltenders in the NCAA. Ivankovic has been backstopping the University of Michigan with a .924 save percentage in 31 games.

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