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Hagens will likely be one of several returning players from last year's gold medal squad. Like Hagens, Cole Eiserman acknowledges the pressure to not just win, but to be victorious at home where the red, white and blue are sure to be plentiful in St. Paul—where Team USA will play all of its games. "I remember two years ago, (U.S. general manager) John Vanbiesbrouck was talking about how (the United States) never won in Sweden, and we ended up winning there," Eiserman said. "So, now we have to win in the States. Hopefully history repeats itself with that and we can win on home soil, which would be pretty cool, especially in Minnesota." Team USA will have to rely on not just the leadership of returnees like Hagens and Eiserman, but also a new wave of players ready to make an impact—especially with the departures of top producing players like Zeev Buium, Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore and Gabe Perreault. "Our '06 ( birth year) core especial- ly, we have something to prove," said Teddy Stiga, last year's gold-medal hero who scored the overtime winner on his only shot in the tournament. "It's kind of like we've been riding on the coattails of the '05s, some people would say. Now it's kind of our turn to show we have a lot of talent. We've played a lot of these guys in prior years, and we have that fire under us, so it's going to be good." Motzko is not concerned about the new faces representing the red, white and blue this year because of how strong the country's devel- opment pipeline continues to be. "USA Hockey is probably in the best spot it's ever been from a talent pool," Motzko said. "You'll see it all over the National Hockey League, and we'll just go through the process to build this team." Hagens, who was selected No. 7 overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2025 NHL Draft, said cul- ture will be imperative to Team USA's success. With the roster coming together quickly and in short term before tournament play begins, Hagens knows that making sure there's a camarade- rie in the locker room will lead to on-ice success. "You need to have a locker room that's all in," Hagens said. "There's going to be great play- ers in this tournament. Great teams. It's one of the best tour- naments in the world, so you have to make sure everyone's coming in and doing the right thing. "You're all playing for your country. You all want to win. The sooner we buy into that same mentality, the quicker and easier we will have that shot at gold." After all, the expectation is gold. "There's going to be pres- sure," Stiga said. "There's going to be a lot of pressure. USA Hockey has built up to where gold is the standard, and we know that. Now it's up to us to continue that legacy and make history again." P PHOTOS BY Getty Images; Images On Ice 34 // NOV/DEC 2025 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM USA Hockey has built up to where gold is the standard, and we know that. Now it's up to us to continue that legacy and make history again." Read the March 2025 and March 2024 Digital Issues Teddy Stiga k Tedy Stiga scored the overtime winner in the 2025 gold- medal game. MARCH 2024 $3.95 YOUTH O LYMPIC TEAM TA K E S HOME G OL D INSIDE T HE U. S. N ATION A L JUNIOR T E A M'S RESPECT CHARTER T HIRD TIME'S A C H A RM F OR MAGGIE SC ANNELL D O L U.S. National Junior Team and U.S. Under-18 Women's National Team Win Gold Medals MARCH 2025 $3.95 GET TO KNOW LAILA EDWARDS HOW TO HANDLE PRE-GAME JITTERS DAN BYLSMA BACK BEHIND THE BENCH WITH KRAKEN 2 2 BACK BACK BACK BACK U.S. National Junior Team Wins Consecutive Gold Medals For First Time Behind Group Effort 20 25 Mar. 25' Mar. 24' *All games on NHL Network U.S. Tournament Schedule Date Sat. Dec. 27 Mon. Dec. 29 Wed. Dec. 31 Fri. Jan. 2 Sun. Jan. 4 Mon. Jan. 5 Fri. Dec. 26 Opponent/Round Switzerland - Preliminary Slovakia - Preliminary Sweden - Preliminary TBD - Quarterfinals TBD - Semifinals TBD - Bronze Medal Game TBD - Gold Medal Game Germany - Preliminary Time (CST) 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 5:00 p.m. TBD 3:30 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. GET TICKETS NOW! Use the QR Code Below: VIDEO | BE THERE WHEN HISTORY HAPPENS 7R5wh0JjG00