(undated) — The 2026 World Junior Hockey Championship begins today at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul and at 3-M Arena at Marriucci in Minneapolis. For the Americans, U.S. head coach Bob Motzko revealed the team captains. All five members of the leadership group helped Team U-S-A to the gold medal last year in the World Juniors. Brodie Ziemer, who plays at the University of Minnesota, will serve as captain with James Hagens (Boston College), Cole Hutson (Boston University), Max Plante (Minnesota Duluth) and Teddy Stiga (Boston College) serving as alternate captains. Stiga and Hutson will wear A’s when Team U-S-A is wearing blue uniforms, while Plante and Hagens will wear A’s when the U.S. is donning white uniforms. Today at Grand Casino Arena in Group A action, Sweden will face Slovakia at noon followed by Team U-S-A against Germany at 5 P-M. Meanwhile in Group B action over in Minneapolis, Finland and Denmark will face off at 2:30 P-M followed by Czechia against Canada at 7 P-M.
Here’s the schedule for the United States team for the 2026 World Junior Hockey Tournament at Grand Casino Arena in St. Paul:
| Date | Event | Location | Time |
| Thurs., Dec. 25 | Practice | Saint Paul, Minn. | 11:15 A-M |
| Fri., Dec. 26 | Germany vs. USA | Saint Paul, Minn. | 5:00 P-M |
| Sat., Dec. 27 | USA vs. Switzerland | Saint Paul, Minn. | 5:00 P-M |
| Sun., Dec. 28 | Practice | Saint Paul, Minn. | 12:00 P-M |
| Mon., Dec. 29 | Slovakia vs. USA | Saint Paul, Minn. | 5:00 P-M |
| Tues., Dec. 30 | Practice | Saint Paul, Minn. | 1:15 P-M |
| Wed., Dec. 31 | USA vs. Sweden | Saint Paul, Minn. | 5:00 P-M |
| Fri., Jan. 2 | Quarterfinals | Saint Paul, Minn. | TBD |
| Sun., Jan. 4 | Semifinals | Saint Paul, Minn. | 3:30 P-M |
| Mon., Jan. 5 | Bronze Medal Game | Saint Paul, Minn. | 3:30 P-M |
| Gold Medal Game | Saint Paul, Minn. | 7:30 P-M |
