Thirty-eight players – including 20 forwards, 14 defensemen and four goaltenders — have been invited by USA Hockey to its Hlinka Gretzky Cup Selection Camp, set to take place from July 28-August 3, at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.
Six players are natives of Minneosta and one is form Hudson and one from Fargo (see roster below).
The players are looking to earn a spot on the final 23-player U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team that will compete at the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Brno, Czechia, and Trenčín, Slovakia, from August 11-16.
To view the complete 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Selection Camp roster, click HERE. For more information on the 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, click HERE.


U.S. UNDER-18 MEN’S SELECT TEAM STAFF ANNOUNCED
Rod Braceful (Detroit, Mich./USA Hockey) is serving as general manager of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team with Marc Boxer (Hancock, Mich./USA Hockey) and Tony Gasparini (Sioux Falls, S.D./Sioux Falls Stampede) assisting with player personnel.
The U.S. coaching staff is led by head coach Kevin Porter (Plymouth, Mich./USA Hockey) with associate coach Ben Syer (Princeton, N.J./Princeton University) and assistant coaches Cody Chupp (Big Rapids, Mich./University of Minnesota Duluth) and Joe Howe (Plymouth, Minn./Yale University).
The staff also includes team leader Parker Metz (Kindred, N.D./USA Hockey), equipment managers Nate LaPoint (Stoughton, Wis./University of Wisconsin) and Marcus Allen (Angola, N.Y./Niagara University), team physician Dr. Michael Beasley (Omaha, Neb./Northeastern University), athletic trainer Phil Varney (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Kraken) and communications coordinator Francis Forte (Independence Township, N.J./USA Hockey).


Camp Roster
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Nathan |
Bienstock |
D |
5-9 (175) |
175 (79) |
5/22/08 |
R |
Hillsborough, N.J. |
NJ Rockets 16U |
Quinnipiac University (ECAC Hockey) |
Nick |
Bogas |
D |
6-0 (183) |
175 (79) |
7/23/08 |
L |
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. |
Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL) |
Michigan State University (Big Ten) |
Sean |
Burick |
D |
6-8 (203) |
205 (93) |
1/9/08 |
R |
San Clemente, Calif. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep |
University of Denver (NCHC) |
Henry |
Chmiel |
D |
6-0 (183) |
212 (96) |
2/29/08 |
L |
Woodbury, Minn. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U |
Arizona State University (NCHC) |
Gavin |
Clark |
F |
6-2 (188) |
180 (82) |
4/22/08 |
R |
Mission Viejo, Calif. |
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U |
Merrimack College (Hockey East) |
Noah |
Davidson |
F |
6-3 (191) |
213 (97) |
11/1/08 |
L |
Irvine, Calif. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep |
Boston College (Hockey East) |
Nicholas |
Desiderio |
F |
6-1 (185) |
190 (86) |
6/16/08 |
L |
North Caldwell, N.J. |
NJ Rockets 16U |
Providence College (Hockey East) |
Kaiden |
Donia |
D |
6-6 (198) |
190 (86) |
1/16/08 |
R |
Townsend, Mass. |
Groton School |
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Nolan |
Duskocy |
F |
6-2 (188) |
190 (86) |
1/26/08 |
R |
Ellington, Conn. |
BK Selects 16U |
University of Massachuestts (Hockey East) |
Jimmy |
Egan |
F |
6-2 (188) |
185 (84) |
3/19/08 |
L |
Mahtomedi, Minn. |
Sioux Falls Power 16U |
Arizona State University (NCHC) |
Colin |
Feeley |
D |
6-7 (201) |
190 (86) |
3/7/08 |
L |
Wyckoff, N.J. |
Salisbury School |
Harvard University (ECAC Hockey) |
Ryder |
Fetterolf |
G |
6-1 (185) |
175 (79) |
1/5/08 |
L |
Sewickley, Pa. |
Gilmour Academy Prep |
Penn State University (Big Ten) |
Brody |
Gillespie |
F |
6-1 (185) |
191 (87) |
2/16/08 |
L |
Vancouver, Wash. |
Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
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Shaeffer |
Gordon-Carroll |
F |
6-1 (185) |
185 (84) |
11/26/08 |
R |
Midway, Utah |
Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) |
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Jake |
Gustafson |
F |
6-4 (193) |
185 (84) |
4/3/08 |
R |
San Jose, Calif. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U |
Colorado College (NCHC) |
Levi |
Harper |
D |
5-11 (180) |
175 (79) |
10/3/08 |
R |
Tampa, Fla. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U |
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Caden |
Harvey |
F |
6-1 (185) |
180 (82) |
2/13/08 |
R |
Beaver, Pa. |
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U |
Penn State University (Big Ten) |
Aidan |
Hesse |
G |
6-2 (188) |
178 (81) |
2/23/08 |
L |
Saint Paul, Minn. |
Sioux Falls Power 16U |
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Jack |
Hextall |
F |
6-0 (183) |
185 (84) |
3/23/08 |
R |
Rolling Meadows, Ill. |
Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) |
Michigan State University (Big Ten) |
Nikita |
Klepov |
F |
5-11 (180) |
165 (75) |
6/27/08 |
L |
Deerfield Beach, Fla. |
Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) |
Michigan State University (Big Ten) |
Brady |
Knowling |
G |
6-5 (196) |
205 (93) |
3/9/08 |
L |
Chicago, Ill. |
U.S. National U17 Team |
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George |
Komadoski |
D |
6-3 (191) |
200 (91) |
8/3/08 |
R |
St. Louis, Mo. |
Mount St. Charles 16U |
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Leo |
Laschon |
D |
6-2 (188) |
200 (91) |
3/19/08 |
L |
Pittsburgh, Pa. |
Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 16U |
Northeastern University (Hockey East) |
Will |
McLaughlin |
D |
6-2 (188) |
175 (79) |
3/10/08 |
L |
Hudson, Wis. |
Drumheller Dragons (AJHL) |
Colorado College (NCHC) |
Kade |
Meyer |
D |
5-9 (175) |
181 (82) |
11/5/08 |
L |
Minocqua, Wis. |
Little Caesars 16U |
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Nicklas |
Nelson |
D |
6-1 (185) |
173 (78) |
8/11/08 |
L |
Monticello, Minn. |
Monticello High School |
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Zaide |
Penner |
D |
6-0 (183) |
183 (83) |
7/8/08 |
R |
Fargo, N.D. |
Northstar Christian 16U |
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Luke |
Puchner |
F |
5-10 (178) |
184 (83) |
1/2/08 |
L |
New Germany, Minn. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep |
University of Minnesota Duluth (NCHC) |
Brooks |
Rogowski |
F |
6-6 (197) |
228 (103) |
6/24/08 |
R |
Brighton. Mich. |
Oshawa Generals (OHL) |
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Joseph |
Salandra |
F |
5-10 (178) |
190 (86) |
2/15/08 |
R |
Pleasantville, N.Y. |
Brunswick School |
Harvard University (ECAC Hockey) |
Rowen |
Sang |
F |
6-2 (188) |
183 (83) |
3/3/08 |
L |
Skillman, N.J. |
Kimball Union Academy |
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Kaenan |
Smith |
G |
6-2 (188) |
200 (91) |
7/21/08 |
L |
Duluth, Minn. |
Sioux Falls Power 16U |
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Cooper |
Soller |
F |
5-11 (180) |
172 (78) |
8/11/08 |
R |
Los Angeles, Calif. |
Shattuck St. Mary’s 16U |
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Alofa Tunoa |
Ta’amu |
D |
6-2 (188) |
220 (100) |
5/28/08 |
L |
Encinitas, Calif. |
Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) |
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Trevor |
Theuer |
F |
5-11 (180) |
190 (86) |
2/12/08 |
L |
Clarkston, Mich. |
Oakland Junior Grizzlies 16U |
Miami University (NCHC) |
Kalder |
Varga |
F |
6-0 (183) |
180 (82) |
6/24/08 |
R |
Geneva, Ill. |
Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
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Jaxon |
Williams |
F |
5-10 (178) |
165 (75) |
7/3/08 |
R |
Cary, N.C. |
Carolina Jr. Hurricanes 16U |
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Blake |
Zielinski |
F |
6-0 (183) |
186 (84) |
3/5/08 |
L |
Berlin, N.J. |
Des Moines Bucaneers (USHL) |
Providence College (Hockey East) |
Team Staff
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General Manager |
Rod Braceful |
Detroit, Mich. |
Player Personnel |
Marc Boxer |
Hancock, Mich. |
Player Personnel |
Tony Gasparini |
Sioux Falls, S.D. |
Head Coach |
Kevin Porter |
Plymouth, Mich. |
Associate Coach |
Ben Syer |
Princeton, N.J. |
Assistant Coach |
Cody Chupp |
Big Rapids, Mich. |
Assistant Coach |
Joe Howe |
Plymouth, Minn. |
Team Leader |
Parker Metz |
Kindred, N.D. |
Team Doctor |
Dr. Michael Beasley |
Omaha, Neb. |
Athletic Trainer |
Phil Varney |
Seattle, Wash. |
Equipment Manager |
Nate LaPoint |
Stoughton, Wis. |
Equipment Manager |
Marcus Allen |
Angola, N.Y. |
Communications Coordinator |
Francis Forte |
Independence Township, N.J. |
ABOUT BRACEFUL
Rod Braceful is serving as general manager for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025, after serving as the director of player personnel for the team in 2024 and 2022.
He’s also held the assistant general manager role for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2025 and 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship events and was a player development staff member for the championship-winning U.S. Junior Select Team at the 2022 World Junior A Challenge.
Braceful, a native of Detroit, currently serves as the director of player personnel for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, returning to the program in 2023 after a stint as assistant director of player personnel from 2018-21.
Prior to returning to the NTDP, he was a scout for the Chicago Blackhawks for two seasons (2021-23). He also was the director of scouting for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL (2017-18) and a scout for the Sioux Falls Stampede (2015-17) in the same league.


ABOUT PORTER
Kevin Porter, who currently serves as an assistant coach with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, will make his debut as the head coach of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team.
Prior to his first season as an assistant coach with the NTDP, Porter spent the previous four seasons with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, helping the team to a pair of Calder Cup playoff appearances.
As a player, Porter played 12 professional seasons with four NHL and five AHL teams, winning the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. He also played four seasons with the University of Michigan, winning the Hobey Baker Memorial Award in his senior season in 2007-08.
On the international stage, Porter represented the U.S. at two IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships, winning silver in 2004, and played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program from 2002-04. He also competed for Team USA at two IIHF World Junior Championships, serving as captain of the 2006 U.S. National Junior Team.


ABOUT SYER
Ben Syer, head coach for Princeton University’s men’s hockey team, will serve on the coaching staff of the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.
With over 25 years of NCAA Division I hockey coaching experience, Syer recently concluded his first season with Princeton. Prior to his time behind the Tigers bench, he spent 13 seasons, 12 of them as associate head coach, at Cornell University from 2011-2024. He was also associate head coach and director of recruiting at Quinnipiac University from 1999-2011.
His time with Cornell featured seven Ivy League championships and three ECAC Hockey regular-season titles, along with one ECAC Hockey tournament championship in 2024. During his time with the Big Red, Cornell made seven NCAA Tournament appearances.


ABOUT CHUPP
Cody Chupp, assistant men’s hockey coach at the University of Minnesota Duluth, is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.
Chupp, who recently concluded his third season as an assistant at UMD, brings 12 years of coaching experience to the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team’s staff. After beginning his career at Utica College (2013-14), Chupp spent three seasons as an assistant coach of the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL (2014-17).
The Big Rapids, Michigan, native also served as the head coach for the USHL’s Lincoln Stars from 2017-20. After his tenure in Lincoln, Chupp spent two years (2020-22) as an assistant coach for the Muskegon Lumberjacks in the USHL before landing in Duluth.
Chupp played four seasons at Ferris State University before suiting up for the AHL’s Texas Stars and ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers as a professional.


ABOUT HOWE
Joe Howe, assistant coach for Yale University’s men’s hockey team, is serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-18 Men’s Select Team for the first time in 2025.
Howe served as an assistant coach for the U.S. Under-17 Men’s Select Team that won the 2024 Under-17 Five Nations Tournament.
The Plymouth, Minnesota, native began his coaching career in 2015-16 at the University of Denver as a volunteer assistant. He was elevated to director of hockey operations in 2017-18 before accepting a role at the University of Alaska Fairbanks as an assistant coach, a role he held for three years (2018-21) before joining Yale prior to the 2021-22 season.
As a player, Howe spent four seasons with Colorado College before embarking on a professional career that featured stints in the ECHL and AHL.

