Thursday, October 16, 2025
Five More Collegians Added to USCS Spengler Roster
The United States Collegiate Select hockey team has announced five additions to its 2025 Spengler Cup roster and Charlie Cerrato (Penn State), T.J. Hughes (Michigan), Cole Knuble (Notre Dame), Danny Nelson (Notre Dame) and Eric Pohlkamp (Denver) join the group selected to compete in the prestigious tournament in late December.
Cerrato, who is a sophomore forward out of Fallston, Md., currently leads Division I men’s hockey with 11 points on three goals and eight assists in just four games. The Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection totaled 15 goals and 27 assists for 42 points in 2024-25, which led all conference rookies. His point total was the second-most all-time by a Penn State freshman. Netting two power-play goals and two game-winners, the Carolina Hurricanes draft choice helped the Nittany Lions to their first-ever Frozen Four appearance.
A senior forward from Hamilton, Ontario, Hughes is the active NCAA points leader, accumulating 127 points on 48 goals and 79 assists in 120 career games. Named All-Big Ten Second Team in 2024-25, he had 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points, with nine power-play tallies and one game-winner. As a sophomore, he posted a career-high 48 points on 19 goals and 29 assists, garnering Honorable Mention All-Big Ten. Through four games this season, he has a goal and four assists for five points, helping the fourth-ranked Wolverines to a 4-0-0 start.
Knuble, a junior forward who hails from Grand Rapids, Mich., garnered All-Big Ten Second Team honors in 2024-25, after collecting 12 goals and 27 assists for 39 points in 34 games. The Philadelphia Flyers draft choice has 60 points on 21 goals and 39 assists in 72 career collegiate games, which includes four man-advantage tallies and six game-winners. Earn Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2024-25, he notched 10 multi-point games for the Fighting Irish, including a four-point outburst in a 4-1 victory over LIU on October 25.
A junior and fellow Fighting Irish forward from Maple Grove, Minn., Nelson produced 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in 36 games last season. Ranking fourth nationally in face-off percentage (57.2%), the New York Islanders draft pick was third on Notre Dame in power-play goals (3) and had one game-winning tally. The U.S. National Team Development Program product helped the United States win the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships in Ottawa, scoring four goals and dishing out two assists for six points in seven games.
Pohlkamp, a junior defenseman out of Baxter, Minn., earned All-NCHC Third Team honors last season, notching 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points in 44 contests, as the Pioneers reached the Frozen Four for second straight season and the 20th time overall. A San Jose Sharks draft choice, he was an All-CCHA First Team selection as a freshman at Bemidji State, netting 11 goals with 13 assists for 24 points in 32, helping the Beavers win the MacNaughton Cup as regular season champions. Off to hot start in 2025-26, he leads all NCAA Division I blueliners with three goals in just two games, and his four points are good for third nationally. Netting a shorthanded goal and a game-winner, he has the fifth-ranked Pioneers off to a 1-0-1 record.
Last week, the “First Five” members of the team were announced, which included Aiden Fink (Penn State), Mac Gadowsky (Penn State), Jake Livanavage (North Dakota), Joey Muldowney (Connecticut), and Alex Tracy (Minnesota State), bringing the named total to 10 student-athletes from four NCAA conferences.
All returning First and Second Team AHCA/CCM All-Americans received an automatic invitation to the team. The remainder of the roster, which will include representation from all six conferences, will be constructed by the USCS coaching staff and organizing committee, with guidance from select NHL scouts.
The United States Collegiate Selects will face Team Canada to open play Spengler Cup play on December 26. Each team will play a minimum of three contests and maximum of five during the six-day event.
The tournament is being broadcast to over 20 countries, either through a partner or via livestream. Official word on how the games can be seen in the United States will be announced at a later date.
The U.S. Collegiate Select team will be made up of 25 student-athletes from across NCAA men’s ice hockey. The competition runs from December 26-31, with the six participating teams. Along with the Selects, host HC Davos, Team Canada, HC Fribourg-Gotteron, Sparta Praha and IFK Helsinki will be taking part in the 2025 edition.
For more information on the Spengler Cup, visit www.spenglercup.ch/en.
Contact: Perry Laskaris
Director of Communications
United States Collegiate Selects
Laskaris@ccha.com
(651) 308-1065