Here’s why the 2019 World Juniors will be Team USA’s best showing yet

If you’re an international hockey fan of the American variety, you’re likely — and rightfully — down in the dumps about Team USA’s World Junior semifinal defeat at the hands of Sweden. The Americans were on track to defend their gold medal from last year’s World Juniors, but ultimately were bested by a superior Sweden squad.

It’s tough to swallow, since Team USA played a pretty solid game — minus a 38-second window — all things considered. The United States has yet to win a gold medal in back-to-back World Junior years, and it will have to wait a bit longer to do so now that someone else will claim gold this year.

While the jury’s still out on Team USA’s chances in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the United States has been a fun group to follow in the World Juniors. Last year’s World Junior hero Troy Terry made it onto the Pyeonchang team, but there’s really nothing like a team made up a bunch of hockey players 20 years old and younger playing for national pride.

Team USA’s hopes of a World Junior gold may be over this year, but not all is lost for the future of the team. In fact, the team may have its best chance at redemption in 2019.

Don’t worry if you haven’t heard Hughes’ name before because you’re going to get ample opportunity to see him before he becomes NHL eligible. Hughes is a 16-year-old American forward who is already making waves in the U.S. Hockey National Team Development Program. This season with the U.S. National Team, Hughes has 48 points in 24 games, leading the under-17 group in points with an astonishing 2.0 points-per-game pace.

It’s early, but it’s expected that Hughes, from sunny Orlando, Fla., will become a top NHL draft pick in 2019. His numbers at the developmental level are eye popping, and he already registers as an incredibly dynamic and game-changing player at just 16 years old.

With the United States losing talents like Casey Mittelstadt and Kieffer Bellows due to eligibility rules next year, Hughes will certainly make up for that talent and then some.

Hughes’ story is even made for a World Junior stage, as he could very likely play alongside his brother, defenseman Quinn Hughes from the University of Michigan, next season if the elder brother is taken once more. It’s very likely he will be, because the elder Hughes brother is already ranked as a top defensive prospect for the 2018 NHL Draft.

Another reason to be hopeful for Team USA’s 2019 World Junior team is that a handful of strong names will likely be returning to the ice. Brady Tkachuk made a name for himself during the recent World Junior tournament with eight points in six games, and he’ll have one year left of eligibility to play with alongside Hughes.

Also available to return is elder Hughes’ teammate at Michigan, Josh Norris, who posted two points in six games for the United States at center.

Even with the talented returning players, Team USA will have to rely on new blood to build the backbone of the team. Young budding talent like Cole Caufield, Mattias Samuelsson, and Joel Farabee will likely get chances to make the team, among other players.

The turnover will be pretty steep for Team USA, but a few cornerstone pieces will be there to pass the baton from one set of players to the other. It certainly helps, though, that Hughes’ talent will be an immediate plus for the Americans next season. After a disappointing end to the 2018 World Juniors, Hughes may just be the boost that Team USA needs to get back into the gold-medal conversation.