Photo by: Michael Caples
Vansaghi, Lee Named to 2026. U.S. National Junior Team Preliminary Roster
12/1/2025 12:41:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State hockey sophomore forward Shane Vansaghi and freshman forward Ryker Lee have been named to the preliminary roster for the 2026 United States National Junior team, as announced by USA Hockey on Monday ahead of the 50th IIHF World Junior Championships held in Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 26-January 5.
Training camp begins on December 15 with the final roster being announced on December 24. Team USA will play pre-tournament games against Germany (Dec. 21) and Finland (Dec. 23). Starting on December 26, all Team USA tournament games will be broadcast on NHL Network.
Neither Vansaghi nor Lee are strangers to USA Hockey. Both attended the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase with Team USA earlier this year and have previously donned the Red, White and Blue on the world stage on multiple occasions.
Vansaghi came to Michigan State via the U.S. National Team Development Program (2022-24) where he helped Team USA win silver medals at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship and the U18 Five Nations Tournament. He took gold with Team USA at the 2023 U18 Five Nations Tournament, the 2023 U17 Five Nations Tournament and the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Lee previously helped the U.S. take first at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge and third at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Future Spartan, Chase Reid, was also named to the preliminary roster. Reid, who is one of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft, received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting and has posted 28 points (10-18-28) in 27 games for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
Team USA will compete alongside Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland in Group A preliminary round play at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul. The U.S. has won the last two gold medals in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and in total has earned 16 podium finishes, including seven gold medals, two silver medals and seven bronze medals.
Training camp begins on December 15 with the final roster being announced on December 24. Team USA will play pre-tournament games against Germany (Dec. 21) and Finland (Dec. 23). Starting on December 26, all Team USA tournament games will be broadcast on NHL Network.
Neither Vansaghi nor Lee are strangers to USA Hockey. Both attended the 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase with Team USA earlier this year and have previously donned the Red, White and Blue on the world stage on multiple occasions.
Vansaghi came to Michigan State via the U.S. National Team Development Program (2022-24) where he helped Team USA win silver medals at the 2024 IIHF U18 Men's World Championship and the U18 Five Nations Tournament. He took gold with Team USA at the 2023 U18 Five Nations Tournament, the 2023 U17 Five Nations Tournament and the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge.
Lee previously helped the U.S. take first at the 2024 World Junior A Challenge and third at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
Future Spartan, Chase Reid, was also named to the preliminary roster. Reid, who is one of the top prospects for the 2026 NHL Draft, received an A rating from NHL Central Scouting and has posted 28 points (10-18-28) in 27 games for the Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League this season.
Team USA will compete alongside Germany, Slovakia, Sweden and Switzerland in Group A preliminary round play at Grand Casino Arena in Saint Paul. The U.S. has won the last two gold medals in the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship and in total has earned 16 podium finishes, including seven gold medals, two silver medals and seven bronze medals.
Players Mentioned
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