Buffalo Sabres prospect thriving as Team USA captain at 2026 World Juniors

Brodie Ziemer played a pivotal role in helping Team USA win a gold medal in the 2025 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, so it was a deserved honor when he was named captain for the two-time defending champion American squad at the 2026 World Juniors.

Ziemer, a third-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2024 NHL Draft, is off the a hot start in the tournament with four points (one goal and three assists) in three games. The U.S. has won all of those contests by a combined score of 14-9.

The popular U-20 event is taking place in Minnesota, where the Sabres prospect grew up and currently plays college hockey at the University of Minnesota.

Ziemer recently discussed wearing the 'C' for Team USA with Jess Myers of the Pioneer Press.

"I'm so honored. Like, I'm feeling super blessed," Ziemer said. "Such a good group of dudes to be able to be captain for, getting to do it on such a big stage in my home state. Just super blessed, super lucky."

Next up for the Americans is a clash with Sweden on New Year's Eve. The winner of Wednesday's high-profile matchup will finish atop Group A. Both sides have already clinched quarterfinal spots.

Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer can hasten journey to the NHL with strong showing at the 2026 World Junior Championship

Ziemer is no stranger to playing for the United States on the international level, and he's always been highly productive. Here's a look at his numbers in major tournaments over the past few years:

• 2022-23 (U-17): 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games

• 2023-24 (U-18): 3 goals and 9 assists in 7 games

• 2024-25 (U-20): 3 goals and 4 assists in 7 games

He also served as captain of the U-18 roster in 2024 as Team USA reached the championship game before falling short against rival Canada.

Ziemer's leadership ability is perhaps his greatest strength. He's a hardworking, team-first player who always leads by example. What he lacks in terms on elite skill, he makes up for by relentlessly winning puck battles and getting to the dirty areas of the ice.

That's been on full display during his second collegiate season with the Golden Gophers. The 19-year-old winger has racked up 19 points (12 goals and seven assists) across 19 appearances after posting 23 points in 38 games as a freshman.

Bob Motzko, who also coaches Ziemer at Minnesota, is serving as the American head coach at the World Juniors and said the team's leaders made it clear who deserved the captaincy.

"The leadership group is great, but if there's one guy they leaned on, it's Brodie," Motzko told Myers.

Although the U.S. is off to a strong start in the tournament, it's essentially gold medal or bust for the competition's top contenders, and the toughest challenges lie ahead.

Ziemer's performance in the remaining games, especially the knockout rounds, will paint an important picture about whether he's close to making the sizable jump to pro hockey.

As it stands, he's probably destined for another season with the Gophers. Standout play for the remainder of the tournament followed by closing the college hockey season on a high note could put him in consideration to join the AHL's Rochester Americans for the final stages of the season, though.

Either way, Ziemer is on track to eventually reach Buffalo and become an important middle-six contributor for the Sabres within the next handful of years.