#17 Future is still bright
As we were working on this the eam had six prospects competing a the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championshp in Ottawa. Among those prospects were Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson of Team USA, Leon Muggli of Team Switzerland, Eriks Mateiko of Latvia, Petr Sikora of Czechia and Miroslav Satan of Slovakia.
Five of the six prospects competing were 2024 draft picks opposite of Leonard, who was taken eighth overall in 2023. Hutson, who was taken in the second round at 43rd overall in 2024 had a goal and an assist in Team USA's 4-1 win over Canada on Tuesday Dec. 31, 2024.
As of this writing he leads all players in assists after recording eight points in four preliminary round games with two goals and six assists. He was also tied for the tournament scoring lead with Sweden's Axel Sandin-Pellikka. Leonard, who's captain of Team USA, added an empty net goal in the win. It secured the American's first place finish in Group A.
Back to the main squad, they capped off 2024 on a good note as well. Aliaksei Protas recorded his third multi goal effort in his last 10 games, Jakob Chychrun scored his 11th goal of the season and Logan Thompson stopped 26 of 27 shots faced as the Capitals defeated the Boston Bruins 3-1 to begin 2025 in first place in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference.