What are the chances Hammer ends up getting an invite to the US WJC camp?
Too young, too unknown, not skilled enough?
Feels like it's a maybe?
I think it's a very good chance he at least makes the team.
Opposite of too young. He turns 19 in July and will be too old for the 2026 WJC. This upcoming season will be his last opportunity.
Not too unknown. He played a game at the Hlinka Gretzky for Team USA in 2022 (and got a shutout). He also helped USA get Bronze in the U19s this year (also had the best GAA in the tourney).
As far as skilled - I don't know all the U20 US goalie prospects, but he dominated the USHL season where it simply wasn't close. And he's the starting goalie in the playoffs over the team's 21 year-old partner (where they played tandem all season long; Hammer played 33 games to Castro's 31).
The biggest obstacle may actually been Trey Augustine. He's backstopped Team USA at multiple levels and went the whole way through USNTDP. He's still young enough to play next season in the WJC. I would expect Augustine to be their go-to starter.
So, I know it's still 7 months out, but I would expect Slukynsky to be penciled as a backup. From there, he may get a game in a back-to-back setting or if Augustine struggles.