Blackhawks prospect Adam Gajan highlights latest additions to 2025 U.S. Collegiate Selects Spengler Cup roster
More notable names are going to be playing in Switzerland next month.
On Thursday, Minnesota Duluth goaltender Adam Gajan, Northeastern captain Vinny Borgesi, Penn State teammates JJ Wiebsuch and Matt DiMarsico and Cornell captain Ryan Walsh were added to the U.S. Collegiate Selects roster set to participate in the 2025 Spengler Cup.
Gajan, a Chicago Blackhawks draft pick, is off to a great start with the Bulldogs this season. The sophomore has a record of 8-2-0, with a 1.85 goals-against average, a .917 save percentage and one shutout. It comes after a rookie season where UMD struggled to keep up with the rest of the NCHC. However, there’s a lot of belief that he can help Duluth contend for a conference title.
The 21-year-old has experience on the international stage, having represented Slovakia at the 2023 and 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships, earning the title as the tournament’s best goaltender in 2023.
Gajan joins Bulldog teammate and Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, Zam Plante, on the Selects roster.
Walsh was taken by the Boston Bruins in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. A solid two-way player on a strong Big Red team, the 22-year-old has been one of the team’s important offensive weapons over the past couple of seasons. After scoring a career-high 31 points last season, Walsh posted a pair of assists in Cornell’s first series last weekend.
Borgesi is in his fourth and final season with the Huskies. A proven leader and solid defenseman, the Philadelphia native has been a staple on the team’s blue line since his freshman season. This year, he has scored a goal and three points in six games. In 104 career games with Northeastern, he has notched 12 goals and 51 assists for 63 points.
Borgesi also represented the United States at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup.
DiMarsico was the Nittany Lions’ hero during last year’s NCAA Tournament, sending the team to the Frozen Four for the first time in program history. The Wexford, Pa. native is coming off an impressive 32-point season, and is off to a great start this season, having potted 15 points in 10 games. Sophomore Wiebusch has been a lightning rod in his first year-plus in Hockey Valley, scoring 33 points last year before adding another 18 points in the early going this year.
The Spengler Cup will take place from Dec. 26-31 in Davos, Switzerland. The Americans’ first game will be against Canada on Boxing Day. The loser of that game will face HC Davos the following day, with the winner getting to meet the hosts on Dec. 28.
This will be just the second time a team from the United States will be competing in the tournament. In 1988, a select squad of Americans playing in Europe, including 1980 Olympic gold medalist Dave Silk, participated in the tournament. The U.S. beat Canada in the final, making them the second non-European team to win the tournament.