It’s the dog days of summer. We’re trying to find ways to cool off in this unrelenting heat so that we can at least enjoy this time where we are not even more miserable outside in the cold. It’s the great balance.
All of this doesn’t mean that hockey has stopped. Even with the Stanley Cup awarded and basically any worthwhile free agent signed and almost every NHL team comfortable with their roster as it stands several weeks before any training camp starts, the sport is still churning away. This past week, the World Junior Summer Showcase has been going on in Windsor, Ontario.
In case you aren’t fully aware of this wonderful mid-summer tournament that is maybe the lowest tier of competition where all the big national powerhouses actually compete in, it is basically set up to be a try-out for the next World Juniors team. While roster locks aren’t playing — for instance, Porter Martone is technically still eligible to play for Team Canada — it’s everyone underneath. It’s rare for anyone on the previous roster to be on a team, so it really is just either freshly drafted players or ones who could be fighting for a roster spot in December.
It’s a way to get noticed and maybe earn a training camp invite for the real thing.
The Philadelphia Flyers have a respectable amount of players involved in Windsor right now. Jack Nesbitt and 2026 second-rounder Brek Liske are playing for Canada. Seventh-round pick Max Laatikainen is playing on the first pair of Team Finland. And more notably, forward Jack Murtagh and defenseman Carter Amico are lacing up for Team USA.
But out of everyone, it is someone who no one really expected to show out, who is doing exactly that.
Carter Amico impressing everyone at World Juniors Summer Showcase
Carter Amico was not supposed to be one of the best defenders on Team USA for the WJSS, but he has been exactly that. The Flyers’ 38th overall pick from the 2025 NHL Draft is known for his 6-foot-5 frame and having above-average skating ability, especially for someone his size, but he is looking like someone who is trying to truly push for that World Juniors team so that he can win some gold.
It started in a game against Sweden last Monday, where he had a fantastic shift that ended with him deflecting a teammate’s shot in for the opening goal of the game.
It’s not even just the goal, but Amico (wearing No. 2) did absolutely everything. He weaved his way through some coverage to enter the zone, and displayed his wheels and puck protection to go deep in enemy territory. The 19-year-old defensemen then was smart enough to know a teammate was coming alone to support him, and quickly sent the puck over so that his team could keep possession. But he didn’t just retreat to the blue line, he stayed aggressive and in a netfront position which eventually earned him the goal.
There was some miserable defending from Sweden on the goal, but Amico took full advantage of it and really showcased what makes him an intriguing prospect.
A couple days later, he even added an assist.
It’s not the prettiest highlight, but Amico was able to swiftly sent the puck over to Calgary Flames prospect Ethan Wyttenbach through some traffic and movement, for him to score.
All of this play led to Steven Ellis at Daily Faceoff spotlighting further, as he named his standouts for Day 4 of the summer tournament and Amico was among them:
“Where did this tournament come from? In two years with the National Team Development Program, Amico had just one goal. Last season, he had one regular season goal and then three in the playoffs. That felt like a breakthrough for a guy who hadn’t really put a ton of pucks on net since he was about 13 years old. But Amico has been outstanding at this tournament, creating some high-quality offensive chances every single night. He’s one of those guys that really had to find a way to play their way onto the main roster, but it feels like he’s been one of the most impactful defensemen not named Chase Reid. He scored in today’s game, but it was called back due to a crease violation. It’s too bad because it felt like he deserved the goal given how well he played today.”
While Amico is entering his Draft+2 season and has a leg-up on some players age-wise, it is notable that he can be widely considered the top American defenseman not named Chase Reid — who was once projected to go in the first three selections of the 2026 NHL Draft just last month. Better than some prospects who are more notable in their pools, and certainly not someone who we instantly think can be a difference maker.
This is great news, because Amico has the biggest season of his life ahead of him.
Amico has a crucial season ahead of him
Amico’s draft year was tough. He had a brutal knee injury in November while playing for the U.S. National Team Development Program that kept him off the ice for all but 17 games. The Flyers then took that as a chance to get a player who could have been taken way higher if he stayed healthy all season. Because, he is a 6-foot-5, right-handed defenseman that can skate and hit.
There was some optimism for his injury days to be behind him as he headed to Boston University last fall. But, unfortunately, he never really got much playing time there and didn’t register a point in the 18 games he did play. So when top prospect Tynan Lawrence made the jump to the Terriers, it was Amico that was actually sent down to the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks in some non-trade-but-sort-of-a-trade to make the rosters work.
Amico played a boatload of minutes in the USHL and by all accounts played real good hockey, even if he didn’t put up a crazy amount of points — no one in that league really does. It was in the playoffs where he was his best, scoring three goals and seven points in 16 games.
It was a positive experience but playing in the USHL is certainly not what anyone really expected for last season. So now, he’s heading back to Boston University with a goal to play some big minutes and be in a much larger role next season.
But, it’s crucial. If he doesn’t show something, then it’s really hard to envision him making the jump to the NHL anytime soon. It was going to be a longer development path for Amico anyways, but he can’t afford to have another somewhat disappointing season, even if he’s playing in the NCAA and staying there.
This performance at the World Junior Summer Showcase is a very good first sign that he is making the most of his summer and is going to make an impact next season for the Terriers and hopefully make Team USA’s World Juniors roster. That’s what everyone hopes for, at least.
