3 NY Islanders prospects named to Team USA's preliminary roster for the World Junior Championship

USA Hockey released its preliminary roster today for the 2026 World Junior Championship held in Duluth and Minneapolis, MN, with three NY Islanders prospects named.

Cole Eiserman, Kamil Bednarik, and Jacob Kvasnicka - three forwards - will have the opportunity to wear their nation's colors in the premier junior hockey event.

USA names 3 Islanders to WJC preliminary roster

“We're excited about the group of players we've named,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It's always difficult to narrow it down, but we're set for what we know will be a very competitive camp that will help us get to our final roster."

Eiserman, part of the 2025 team that won the Gold Medal, is as close to a no-brainer as there is, as he’ll be one of the top forwards for the Stars and Stripes. The 19-year-old sophomore for Boston University scored three times, adding four assists, while playing mostly as the 13th forward in last year's tournament. Now back after missing a few weeks due to injury, Eiserman has seven goals and three assists for BU through 11 games.

Bednarik, the Isles’ second-round pick in 2024, is a teammate of Eiserman at BU and is a staunch defensive forward. He’ll likely be part of the PK unit and can be deployed against the opposition's top forwards.

Kvasnicka, drafted this past summer in the seventh-round, plays his junior hockey for the Penticton Vees of the WHL. The Burnsville, MN native leads the Vees in points with 30 (12 G, 18 A) through 25 games, using his speed to carve through defenders.

USA Hockey named 15 forwards to their preliminary roster, and last year, carried 14 for the WJC, meaning in all likelihood, one forward will be cut. Eiserman and Bednarik are safe bets, but Kvasnicka is likely one of the players on the bubble. A strong camp could see him on the final roster, making it an Islanders heavy forward group.