GOTHENBURG, Sweden — Forward Rutger McGroarty (Lincoln, Neb./University of Michigan) has been named captain of the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team that will play here in the 2024 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship Dec. 26-Jan. 5 it was announced today by USA Hockey.

In addition, forwards Cutter Gauthier (Scottsdale, Ariz./Boston College) and Gavin Brindley (Estero, Fla./University of Michigan) and defensemen Ryan Chesley (Mahtomedi, Minn./University of Minnesota) and Lane Hutson (North Barrington, Ill./Boston University) have been tabbed alternate captains.

“I’m excited about our leadership group and they have the full support of our overall team, which is important,” said David Carle (Anchorage, Alaska/University of Denver), head coach of the U.S. National Junior Team. “While our captains will play a significant role, for us to be successful, everyone will need to lead and contribute, and we have a group that is focused on just that.”

All five members of the Team USA leadership group were part of the bronze medal-winning 2023 U.S. National Junior Team.

NOTES: For the third time in the last four years, the captain of the U.S. National Junior Team is from the University of Michigan … McGroarty is the first forward to captain a U.S. National Junior Team since Joey Anderson from the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2018 … The U.S. National Junior Team will play two pre-tournament games in advance of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, including tomorrow (Dec. 21) against Sweden and on Saturday (Dec. 23) against Canada. The U.S. opens play in the World Juniors on Dec. 26 against Norway. 

Last 10 Team USA Captains

• 2023 – Luke Hughes/D/University of Michigan
• 2022 – Brock Faber/D/University of Minnesota
• 2021 – Cam York/D/University of Michigan
• 2020 – Mattias Samuelsson/D/Western Michigan University
• 2019 – Mikey Anderson/D/University of Minnesota Duluth
• 2018 – Joey Anderson/F/University of Minnesota Duluth
• 2017 – Luke Kunin/F/University of Wisconsin
• 2016 – Zach Werenski/D/University of Michigan
• 2015 – Jack Eichel/F/Boston University
• 2014 – Riley Barber/F/Miami University