After being left off the initial invite list for this year's United States World Junior Championships roster, one could assume that Will Zellers and his family were in a celebratory mood on Friday night. 

The Maple Grove native and current North Dakota forward netted two goals and added an assist in Team USA's 6-3 win over Germany at Grand Casino Arena, showcasing the offensive instincts and wicked shot that made him a third-round selection of the Colorado Avalanche in 2024 and the USHL's Player of the Year for the 2024-2025 season.

However, the excitement of the Zellers clan may have been matched only by that of the family of Brendan McMorrow, his Team USA linemate and childhood friend. 

For the first time in nearly four years, the duo was reunited on the same line for the first time since their last AAA summer youth tournament together, when they skated for the Minnesota Machine offseason program. 

"I love Shorty so much," Zellers said after Friday's win. "He's like a brother to me. We'd carpool together to Chicago or wherever we were playing. I've built a really good relationship with him."

For McMorrow, the warm feelings are mutual. 

"He's a really special player," McMorrow said of Zellers. "Once we get the puck in the o-zone, that's when his talent can really come out."

The duo first teamed up at a summer tournament in the sixth grade, then played together in Minnesota Made's winter "Choice" League, which competes separately from traditional association hockey. In 2019, they helped Team Minnesota advance to the semifinals of the famed Quebec Peewee Tournament, and their final showing as teammates came during a run to the ultimate prize at the World Youth Championships in Philadelphia in 2022. 

Zellers and McMorrow diverged after their 14U season playing for the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers, with Zellers heading off to Shattuck-St. Mary's and McMorrow playing one season with Benilde-St. Margaret's before joining the National Team Development Program for his U17 and U18 seasons. 

Now skating for Team USA together, they're as comfortable as they were on all those long drives and games in humid suburban rinks during their middle school summers. 

"I think we kind of play off each other really well," McMorrow said. "He's got a really good nose for the net, and he's fun to play with."

That chemistry was obvious during the game, as McMorrow's tenacity in the offensive zone caused headaches and miscues from the German defense, freeing up the high-flying Zellers to pick his spots and score goals.

For his efforts, McMorrow was named Team USA's Player of the Game. 

"He's such an unbelievable player," Zellers said. "(He) plays the game so hard, so mature. You get a guy like that and (Anthony) Spellacy on your line, they make my job a lot easier."

Like Zellers, McMorrow has had his NHL future vouched for. Last summer, the Los Angeles Kings selected McMorrow in the seventh round. Zellers is now a Boston Bruins prospect after being packaged as part of the Charlie Coyle trade last March.

After the tournament, the pair will return to their separate hockey paths. Zellers will trek back up to Grand Forks, and McMorrow will hop on a flight to Denver and rejoin his Pioneers for the rest of the collegiate season. 

But for the next week or so, they'll do their best to complement each other as they always have, playing the way only two childhood teammates with years of shared experiences can.