5 locals make U.S. national junior team preliminary roster

James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.), right, will compete for a spot on Team USA again. (Jari Pestelacci/Getty Images)

On Monday, USA Hockey announced the preliminary roster for the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team.

Those players picked will head to Plymouth, Mich., from Dec. 14-16 for a training camp that will determine the 25-man roster for the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.

The tournament will take place Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Five locals made the roster and will fight for roster spots.

The biggest name to make the team was James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y.). The Boston College commit has 11 goals and 34 points in 20 games for the United States National Team Development Program’s 18U team. Hagens is known for his phenomenal playmaking abilities.

Joining Hagens at forward will be Carey Terrance (Akwesasne, N.Y.). Terrance is playing with the OHL’s Erie Otters and has 20 goals and 32 points in 26 games. He was selected in the second round (59th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in this year’s NHL Draft.

Three locals will fight spots on defense.

Two are from New York — Drew Fortescue (Pearl River, N.Y.) and Patrick Geary (Buffalo, N.Y.) — while Aram Minnetian is the lone player from New Jersey.

Fortescue is in his freshman season at Boston College where he has three goals in 16 games. He’s fresh off a strong career with the NTDP. Geary has been strong for Michigan State as a freshman, posting three goals and six points in 10 games. Prior to starting his college career, Geary was with the Waterloo Black Hawks in the USHL.

Like Fortescue, Minnetian is a freshman at Boston College. The Woodcliff Lake, N.J., native has played in 16 games this season, posting one goal and four points. And also like Fortescue, Minnetian is fresh off a strong career with the NTDP.