SOUTH BEND, Ind. – A trio of Irish underclassmen in Paul Fischer, Nicholas Kempf and Danny Nelson have been announced to attend the 2024 World Junior Summer Showcase as members of Team USA the national governing body announced Thursday afternoon. The Summer Showcase serves as an evaluation camp for some of the top U20 players in the world vying for spots on their respective national teams competing for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Sophomores Fischer and Nelson make their return to the showcase, having previously earned a spot in 2023 with Nelson earning a spot on the world juniors team a season ago and helping Team USA clinch gold in Sweden.
“It was an honor representing Notre Dame and the United States last year at the World Junior Championships and I’m extremely excited to get the chance to potentially do it again,” Nelson said of his selection for the 2024 showcase.
Nelson was one of Notre Dame’s leading scorers last season, boasting nine goals and 14 assists in 30 games played before missing the last month of the season due to injury. His 23 points ranked among the top for rookies in 2023-24 while also representing his nation in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he boasted a goal and an assist through seven games played.
A two-way defenseman, Fischer played an imperative role at the blue line for the Irish last season. The now-sophomore joined the Irish after two years at the U.S. National Team Development Program (along with Nelson) and was one of the team’s leading defensive scorers. With two goals and 14 assists in 2023-24, Fischer finished third on the team among defensemen in points and is the team’s leading scorer returning to the blueline this coming year. His 14 helpers was tied with Nelson for third-most on the team and the most among all Irish rookies.
“Notre Dame has been huge in my confidence as a person and as a player,” Fischer said reflecting on the 2023-24 season. “The coaching staff, Tony Rolinski, Kevin Ricks, and Patrick Dooley are world class people that push me to be my best self everyday and have played a major role in my development.”
Kempf, a member of the USNTDP for the past two seasons, will look to earn his spot on the national team roster for the first time. He joins the Irish in net for the 2024-25 season as one of the top goaltending prospects of this year’s class.
“This opportunity is super special, and I’m super honored,” Kempf said on the showcase selection. “Wearing the USA jersey is an honor, and something I’ll always cherish.
“The opportunity to come in to Notre Dame this year was one I couldn’t pass up, and being able to grow this year is something I’m really looking forward to.”
The 2024 showcase will take place from July 26-August 3 at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. To date, 29 current and former Irish student-athletes have laced up their skates at the IIHF World Junior Championships.