Eight Players with NAHL ties will be lacing up on the U.S. Collegiate Selects Team for the Spengler Cup

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is proud to have eight alumni selected for this year’s Spengler Cup. This annual tournament has been running for 102 years, starting in 1923. It is regarded as the oldest invitational ice hockey tournament in the world and is known as one of Europe's most prestigious events.

For the first time in the Spengler Cup’s history, NCAA selects will appear in the annual event. The U.S. Collegiate Selects team was selected from across NCAA Division I men’s hockey. The roster showcased some of the top talent in Division I men’s hockey and is composed of 25 athletes. The annual tournament will run from December 26-31, 2025, and features six participating teams.

Back in October, the U.S. Collegiate Selects hockey team announced its “First Five” members of their inaugural squad. Two of the five announced are NAHL alumni.

Kicking things off on the team, former Springfield Jr. Blue and Fairbanks Ice Dog (2021-23), Mac Gadowsky, will be lacing up for the roster. Gadowsky featured a list full of awards from his 2024-25 campaign. He was the first-ever Army West Point Black Knight to be named as a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Finalist. The blueliner was Atlantic Hockey’s Best Defenseman, First All-Star Team, and made the All-Tournament Team. Gadowsky was the only player in the country to register 40-plus points and blocked shots. His breakout campaign saw him lead all defensemen with 42 points and 16 goals. His offensive prowess had him continue his hockey career with the Penn State Nittany Lions for the 2025-26 season under his father, Guy Gadowsky.

Joining him in the “First Five” announcement, former Johnstown Tomahawk (2019-20) Alex Tracy continues his dominant campaign into his senior season with Minnesota State Mankato. The netminder, just like Gadowsky, earned a long list of awards for his 2024-25 campaign. He was named as a Hobey Baker Memorial Award Finalist, Mike Richter Award Finalist, was the CCHA’s Player of the Year, Goaltender of the Year, First-Team All-CCHA, and was also the Student-Athlete of the Year. He earned five CCHA Goaltender of the Week honors while being named as a CCHA Goaltender of the Month on three occasions. He led the nation with his 1.42 goals-against average and .946 save percentage.

The former Chippewa Steel netminder (2022-23), Adam Gajan, will play between the pipes with the team. Gajan is a 2023 round two draft pick for the Chicago Blackhawks. The 6-foot-3 goaltender is a sophomore with the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Currently, he spotlights some of the best stats for goaltenders in NCAA hockey. He features a 1.92 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. Thanks to his work with the blue paint, Gajan has secured 14 wins for the Bulldogs. Also, this season, he has been named the Goaltender of the Month for the NCHC for October. Gajan has experience playing internationally, playing for Team Slovakia in World Juniors for two years.

Playing with Gadowsky on the blue line, former Minnesota Magician (2021) Eric Pohlkamp will join the three fellow athletes on the ice. Pohlkamp is in his second season with the University of Denver. He currently leads all defensemen in NCAA Hockey with 12 tallies on the year while sitting tied second overall with 20 points on the season. The San Jose Sharks draftee has helped the Pioneers reach the Frozen Four the past two seasons. Pohlkamp has experience playing internationally because in his freshman season, he was a member of Team USA’s World Junior roster, helping the team earn gold in 2024.

Skating alongside the NAHL alumni, former Odessa Jackalope (2021), Joey Musa will hit the ice in Switzerland. Musa is in his junior season playing for the UMass Minutemen. The forward leads his team with 13 assists and 21 points on the year. He ranks second amongst skaters in Hockey East with his 21 points on the year. Last season, Musa was one of the top scorers on the roster, featuring 18 goals and 17 assists for the Minutemen.

Hailing from Quinnipiac, the former Janesville Jet (2022) Chris Pelosi will lace up with the NAHL alumni in Switzerland. The 20-year-old forward was a 2023 round three draft pick by the Boston Bruins. The ‘05 skater ranks second on his roster with 10 goals and 10 assists on the year.

Former forward on the Minnesota Wilderness (2021), Zam Plante, will also skate on the U.S. Collegiate Selects Team. Plante is a sophomore skater on the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Plante sits second on his UMD roster with 25 points on the season, tallying seven goals and 18 assists. The second-year forward is one of the top scorers in the country and features a special connection to the Spengler Cup. His father, Derek Plante, played in the Spengler Cup in 2002 with UMD.

Joining from Penn State, former Janesville Jet (2021) JJ Wiebusch will hit the ice with his fellow teammate, Mac Gadowsky. Wiebusch is a sophomore skater from Wisconsin. The ‘04 skater leads his roster with 11 goals this season and played an impact role for the Nittany Lions last season, helping them to the program’s first Frozen Four.

The 11-game tournament will be live for the United States via the Spengler Cup’s YouTube channel. Don’t miss the chance to cheer on NAHL alumni at the 97th Spengler Cup!