Approaching that time, Insiders!

The World Junior Championships are 25 days away, so over the coming days and weeks, we’ll start to see news of Kings prospects be named to camps, preliminary rosters and ultimately selections to participate in the tournament. Today, a pair of 2025 Kings draft picks were selected to Team USA’s preliminary roster, with defenseman Henry Brzustewicz and forward Brandon McMorrow set to attend training camp at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minnesota, from December 15 – 23, in advance of the tournament, which will be held in Minnesota beginning on December 26.

Brzustewicz was the team’s first-round selection this past June in Los Angeles and was a part of Team USA’s Summer Showcase event a couple of months back. Brzustewicz played in four games during the showcase, two games with USA Blue and two games with Team USA overall. Brzustewicz got on the board with USA Blue against Team Finland early in the tournament, collecting an assist in a 3-2 defeat. Brzustewicz probably entered that camp as a bit of a bubble player and he is also eligible to play in the 2027 tournament. In a larger role this season with OHL-London, Brzustewicz has collected eight goals and 14 points from 21 games played with the Knights, who sit in second place in the Midwest Division. Only three blueliners in the OHL have more goals than Brzustewicz so far this season, as he’s gotten off to a strong start offensively.

The Michigan man in Michigan!@LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/F5RgyH5Wyo

— London Knights (@LondonKnights) November 30, 2025

McMorrow would be considered the more surprising of the two, but he was invited to the Summer Showcase, same as Brzustewicz, though he did not participate. McMorrrow was a seventh-round selection by the Kings who is here to fill a pretty targeted role on the team. He was selected by the Kings as an overaged player, so this is his only chance to make the team, and he’s a guy who can be a role player on a team like this, likely in line to play in a bottom-six role should he make the final roster. McMorrow had a really impressive playoff run last season in the USHL with Waterloo, as he tallied 14 points (7-7-14) from 15 games played. He’s got five points (1-4-5) from 12 games played at the University of Denver this season, scoring his first career NCAA goal last month against Boston College, but he brings so many intangibles in his game that can be beneficial as a role player in a tournament like this. Plug and play guy who would embrace a fourth-line role if that’s where he winds up. Nice to see him recognized with a chance to make the team.

Embedding some thoughts on McMorrow below after the Kings selected him in the draft, including Kings Director of Amateur Scouting Mark Yannetti.

This is likely just the tip of the iceberg for the Kings in terms of the upcoming tournament. Goaltender Carter George is the expected starting goaltender for Team Canada, while forward Liam Greentree should certainly be in the mix to make that team as well. Goaltender Petteri Rimpinen was selected as the tournament’s Best Goaltender last season and he’s expected to be the starter in net for Team Finland. Fellow 2025 draft picks Vojtech Cihar (Czechia) and Jan Chovan (Slovakia) should have good chances to make their respective teams as well, with both players participating in last year’s event as draft-eligible players. Cihar won a bronze medal with Team Czechia, as he collected two points (1-1-2) from seven games played, while Chovan scored the game-winning goal against Switzerland in pool play, their only regulation win, helping Slovakia advance to the knockout round.

More to come on the WJC front as rosters come into focus. This season’s tournament will be hosted in the United States in Minneapolis and St. Paul, beginning on 12/26.