It’s difficult to cover the World Junior Summer Showcase at the best of times. Team USA’s website would at least post scores and scoresheets when the event was held in Plymouth; it’s being held in Windsor, Ontario this year, and the Hockey Canada website is kind of…selective…In terms of what’s being shared with the non-media public.
What I’ve got for you today is a couple of Tweets regarding the lineups for today’s WJSS game between Team USA White and Team Finland, which won 4-1 over the Americans (per a Hockey Canada box score shared by the U.S. website).
Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis posted the teams’ lineups…You’ll note that Victor Plante and JP Hulrbert flanked Sammy Nelson on the top line, and Brent Solomon played on the 3rd line…
Lines for USA White vs. Finland to open up the World Junior Summer Showcase. pic.twitter.com/3dSQA2wDDo
— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) July 26, 2026
And Red Wings Prospects on Twitter, who paid the $$ to access the pay-only stream, posted a clip of Solomon scoring a back-door after-the-power-play marker…
— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) July 26, 2026
As described by NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale:
Brent Solomon (DET) tucks in a puck from outside the right goalpost at 9:48 of the second; just after a FIN penalty expired. Fin 4, USA 1. In case you're wondering: 'Free Bird.'
— Mike Morreale (@mikemorrealeNHL) July 26, 2026
That’s what we’ve got in terms of coverage of the U.S. White-Finland game. As the three Red Wings prospects in Plante (Minnesota-Duluth), Hulrbert (Michigan) and Solomon (Wisconsin) are the Red Wings’ only representatives at the WJSS, I believe they’ll be in focus between today and August 1st, when the tournament ends.
Update: Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis reports that JP Hulrbert looked good playing on Team USA White’s first line:
#20 J.P. Hurlbert, RW (Detroit Red Wings): USA’s forward crop was a disaster today, but I did like Hurlbert’s effort. He was one of the few who seemed to attack every shift with purpose, and he had quite the opportunity early in the first period. Even late in shifts, it felt like he was attacking a bit more than we typically saw from him in the WHL – he knows he needs to be annoying to be fully effective. I thought he did an impressive job of making himself known every time he entered the offensive zone.
