LA Kings prospect named player of the game for Team USA

The first day of the 2026 World Junior Championships in Minnesota this weekend delivered plenty of action and excitement, featuring a handful of Los Angeles Kings prospects in the development system yesterday on Dec. 26. Four games were played at the World Juniors Championships in pool play on Day 1 on Friday, including the United States and Team Canada yesterday.

Los Angeles Kings’ forward prospect Brendan McMorrow shines for Team USA vs. Germany on Day 1 of the 2026 World Juniors Championship

On Day 1 of action in the World Juniors on Dec. 26, Team USA faced Germany in pool play on Friday. Representing the Kings among the top prospects for the team in the World Juniors this week in Minnesota is forward Brendan McMorrow.

McMorrow and Team USA had a rocky start on the ice yesterday against Germany in the game’s opening frame in the first period. Team USA only had a one goal lead on the scoreboard against Germany late in the opening frame and early in the middle frame in the second period yesterday.

Despite Germany applying the pressure on the United States and McMorrow early in the game’s second period in the middle frame, Team USA harnessed the momentum on the ice and on the scoreboard for the game’s second half in the second and third periods.

McMorrow was all over the place for Team USA yesterday. Not only did he register an assist, but he also was a +3 and made multiple big defensive plays and in the neutral zone for the United States.

He was this productive while playing just over 13 minutes in time on the ice yesterday with the fourth-line forward core group for Team USA. McMorrow was named the Player of the Game for Team USA yesterday after the comfortable 6-3 win over Germany in the World Juniors.

Brendan McMorrow is team USA’s player of the game! 🇺🇸#WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/TTd6sDn6dx

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) December 27, 2025

McMorrow assisted the game’s second goal in the opening frame in the first period for Team USA yesterday vs. Germany.

Reid coming in HOT 🔥 #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/U2pNpS4sH4

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 26, 2025

I don’t think the box score and the stat sheet tell the complete story of just how good McMorrow was on the ice yesterday on both sides of the rink for Team USA.

Next up for McMorrow and the United States is a pool play matchup on Saturday afternoon (Dec. 27) against Switzerland.