The 19-year-old defenseman had six points (one goal, five assists) in five games when the US finished fifth at the 2022 World Junior Championship in August. He was selected by the Devils with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Defenseman Sean Behrens (Colorado Avalanche) and forward Redmond Savage (Detroit Red Wings) were named alternate captains.
“We’ve got a terrific leadership group with Luke, Sean and ‘Red,'” US coach Rand Pecknold said. “We know they’ll use their experience and voice to help us in our ultimate goal of winning the gold medal. And while those three will be the ones wearing the letters, ultimately everyone has a role in leading this team.”
Hughes, a left-shot defenseman, has 18 points (three goals, 15 assists) in 20 games as a sophomore and alternate captain at the University of Michigan this season.
He’s the younger brother of Devils forward Jack Hughes and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Quinn Hughes.
“Luke’s an [alternate] captain and a leader on our team and he’s still 19 years old,” Michigan interim coach Brandon Naurato said. “He leads on the ice. He’s learning how to lead off the ice now as a younger player. I think he’s done a better job of creating a routine for himself of great habits and he’s really enjoying and embracing the college experience.”
Hughes, Behrens and Savage are three of eight returning players for the US, with goalies Kaidan Mbereko (2023 NHL Draft eligible) and Andrew Oke (2023 NHL Draft eligible), defenseman Jack Peart (Minnesota Wild) and forwards Logan Cooley (Arizona Coyotes) and Charlie Stramel (2023 eligible).
Canada is the host country for the 2023 WJC, scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Moncton, New Brunswick, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The US will participate in Group B with Finland, Switzerland, Slovakia and Latvia at the Avenir Center in Moncton. Group A consists of defending champion Canada, along with Sweden, Czechia, Germany and Austria at the Scotiabank Center in Halifax.
The tournament quarterfinals will be held Jan. 2, the semifinals Jan. 4 and the gold-medal game and bronze-medal game will be Jan. 5.
The US will have exhibition matches against Finland at QPlex in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, on Monday and against Sweden at Avenir Center in Moncton on Dec. 21.
The United States, which opens the WJC against Latvia at 4 pm ET on Dec. 26, failed to finish among the top three at the World Juniors for the second time in seven years after a 4-2 loss to Czechia in the quarterfinals of the 2022 WJC. It won the gold medal with a 2-0 win against Canada in 2021 after finishing sixth in 2020.
All games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the US, and TSN in Canada.
Shane Wright, a forward selected no. 4 by the Seattle Kraken in the 2022 NHL Draft, was named Canada captain Sunday. The 18-year-old has one goal and an assist in eight games for the Kraken and four goals in five games for Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League this season.
Defenseman Ethan Del Mastro (Chicago Blackhawks) and forwards Nathan Gaucher (Anaheim Ducks), Dylan Guenther (Arizone Coyotes) and Logan Stankovan (Dallas Stars) were named alternate captains.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to represent Canada on home ice at the World Juniors, and it is a true honor to be named captain on a team with so many great players and leaders,” Wright said. “Ethan, Nathan, Dylan and Logan are deserving of this recognition, and I look forward to contributing to the team’s success with them as part of the leadership group. We are excited to play in front of Canadian fans in Halifax and Moncton as we look.” to defend gold.”
UNITED STATES ROSTER
GOALIES: Trey Augustine, USA U-18, NTDP (2023 draft eligible); Kaidan Mbereko, Colorado College, NCHC (2023 draft eligible); Andrew Oke, Saginaw, OHL (2023 draft eligible)
DEFENSEMEN: Sean Behrens, Denver, NCAA (Colorado Avalanche); Seamus Casey, Michigan, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Ryan Chesley, Minnesota, NCAA (Washington Capitals); Luke Hughes, Michigan, NCAA (New Jersey Devils); Lane Hutson, Boston University, NCAA (Montreal Canadiens); Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesota, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Jack Peart, St. Cloud State, NCAA (Minnesota Wild); Ryan Ufko, Massachusetts, NCAA (Nashville Predators)
FORWARDS: Jackson Blake, North Dakota NCAA (Carolina Hurricanes); Gavin Brindley, Michigan, NCAA (2023 draft eligible); Tyler Boucher, Ottawa, OHL (Ottawa Senators); Kenny Connors, Massachusetts, NCAA (Los Angeles Kings); Logan Cooley, Minnesota, NCAA (Arizona Coyotes); Dylan Duke, Michigan, NCAA (Tampa Bay Lightning); Cutter Gauthier, Boston College, NCAA (Philadelphia Flyers); Noah Laba, Colorado College, NCAA (New York Rangers); Samuel Lipkin, Quinnipiac, NCAA (Arizona Coyotes); Chaz Lucius, Manitoba, AHL (Winnipeg Jets); Rutger McGroarty, Michigan, NCAA (Winnipeg Jets); Redmond Savage, Miami University, NCAA (Detroit Red Wings); Jimmy Snuggerud, Minnesota, NCAA (St. Louis Blues); Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin, NCAA (2023 draft eligible)
.