With the World Junior Championship just around the corner, the buzz is building - and for the LA Kings, it’s already shaping up to be a tournament worth watching. Two of their 2025 draft picks, defenseman Henry Brzustewicz and forward Brandon McMorrow, have been named to Team USA’s preliminary roster, a strong early nod as rosters start to take shape ahead of the tournament’s December 26 start in Minnesota.
Let’s start with Brzustewicz, who’s been trending upward since the Kings made him their first-round pick this past June. The right-shot defenseman made an impression at the Summer Showcase earlier this year, suiting up in four games - two with USA Blue and two with the combined Team USA squad. He picked up an assist in a tight 3-2 loss to Finland, showing flashes of the offensive instincts that made him a top pick.
What’s most encouraging is how Brzustewicz has followed that up with a strong start to his OHL season. Skating with the London Knights, he’s already put up eight goals and 14 points in 21 games, helping London climb to second in the Midwest Division.
Only three blueliners in the entire OHL have scored more goals than him so far - a testament to his offensive upside from the back end. He’s playing bigger minutes, showing more poise, and clearly earning the trust of the coaching staff in London.
He’s also eligible for the 2027 WJC, so this isn’t necessarily his only shot - but the way he’s playing, he might not need another year to break through.
Then there’s Brandon McMorrow, a bit more of a surprise inclusion on the preliminary roster - but a welcome one. The seventh-round pick by LA didn’t skate at the Summer Showcase despite being invited, but he’s the kind of player who can carve out a niche on a team like this. A true role player, McMorrow is the type of guy who embraces the grind - and that can be invaluable in a short tournament where depth often determines who comes out on top.
McMorrow is an overager, so this is his one and only shot at the World Juniors. But he’s earned this opportunity.
He was a force in the USHL playoffs last spring, putting up 14 points (7G, 7A) in 15 games for Waterloo. Now at the University of Denver, he’s added five points in 12 games and notched his first NCAA goal last month against Boston College.
His box score stats might not jump off the page, but his game is built on the kind of intangibles coaches love - effort, physicality, and the willingness to play a defined role. If he makes the final cut, expect him to slide into a bottom-six, possibly fourth-line role, where he can provide energy and reliability.
This is just the beginning for the Kings’ presence at this year’s World Juniors. Carter George is on track to be Team Canada’s starting goaltender, while forward Liam Greentree is very much in the mix for a roster spot as well.
Over in Europe, Petteri Rimpinen - named Best Goaltender at last year’s tournament - is expected to start again for Team Finland. Two more Kings prospects, Vojtech Cihar (Czechia) and Jan Chovan (Slovakia), are also in strong position to return to the tournament after making their debuts last year as draft-eligible players.
Cihar helped Czechia capture bronze last year, notching a goal and an assist in seven games. Chovan, meanwhile, scored Slovakia’s lone regulation win in pool play with a clutch game-winner against Switzerland - a goal that helped Slovakia advance to the knockout round.
With the tournament set to be hosted in Minneapolis and St. Paul, this year’s edition of the World Juniors offers a rare chance for American fans to see the future of the game up close - and for Kings fans, it’s a chance to get an early look at some of the organization’s most intriguing young talent. As final rosters come into focus over the next few weeks, expect more Kings prospects to join the mix.
For now, Brzustewicz and McMorrow are the first to get the call. And if their recent play is any indication, they’re more than ready to make the most of it.