After the NHL pulled out of the 2022 Winter Games, USA Hockey went back to college to form its Beijing Olympics men’s hockey team.
Thursday’s final Olympic roster includes 15 current NCAA hockey players from nine colleges. The remainder of the team is made up of eight players from European leagues, and two American Hockey League players.
“We are fortunate to have a large talent pool,” said John VanbiesbrouckThe team’s general manger is. “And with the mix of players that are part of our group, we’re looking forward at competing for a Gold Medal in Beijing.”
This is the second consecutive Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament that has been held without NHL player participation. The U.S. roster at the PyeongChang Olympic was made up of both college and professional players. The Americans were 1-1-1 in pool play, before falling in the quarterfinal shootout against the Czech Republic.
Only returning player is forward Brian O’Neill from 2018, who plays for Jokerit, Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
Only four NCAA players were on the 2018 team, while most of the 2022 U.S. Men’s hockey team was made up of college hockey players.
Minnesota State Mankato’s Nathan SmithWith 33 points in 22 games, he is the top scorer in Division I men’s hockey. Nine NCAA players are on the Olympic roster and they average over one point per game.
Anaheim DucksForward Troy TerryOne of the four NCAA athletes on the 2018 team said it was an “almost overwhelming” experience to play against professional players from other nations at the Olympics.
“Be confident. It took me awhile to understand that I am a good player. It’s what many players go through at these events,” Terry explained to ESPN.
O’Neill is one of seven athletes on the U.S. Olympic team 2022 with NHL experience. Forward Nick Shore(Sibir Novosibirsk KHL), played 299 regular season games with five different teams while Steven Kampfer (Ak bars Kazan KHL), participated in 231 games primarily with the KHL. Boston Bruins. Forwards are other former NHL players. Kenny Agostino(Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL). Andy Miele(Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod KHL); defensemen Aaron Ness(Providence Bruins AHL) David Warsofsky (ERC Ingolstadt, Germany’s DEL).
Brian Cooper, a Defenseman, was also named to this roster. He was drafted in 2012 in Anaheim Ducks. Cooper played his last three years in Sweden.
Drew Commesso from Boston University is the U.S. goaltender. Strauss Mann, a former University of Michigan goalie, had an excellent first season with Skelleftea AIK, Sweden. Pat Nagle, a 34 year-old, who has played in the ECHL, AHL, and the last ten years in the ECHL. Nagle is currently a goalie with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms (the Philadelphia Flyers’ minor league affiliate).
David Quinn is the former head coach of U.S. men’s team New York Rangers. It will be in Group A at the Beijing tournament along with Canada and 2018 silver medalist Germany. China is the host nation. The preliminary round will see Team USA play China on February 10.
With NHL players, the U.S. men’s Olympic hockey squad won silver in Salt Lake City (2002) and Vancouver (2010). Canada lost in both gold-medal matches. The 1980 “Miracle on Ice” was the last Olympic hockey gold for the U.S.
Tony Granato, University of Wisconsin men’s basketball coach, stated that the U.S. Olympic team has the potential to win a medal even without NHL participation.
You can win it. He stated this week to ESPN that it was so open. “Germany was only a minute away from winning a medal. Who would have thought? Each team faces their own challenges this year just like when we went. Every team expected the NHL to be here this time so everyone is making adjustments. They are all trying to figure out how to proceed. Our best chance to win was due to the hard work that we did in preparation for that tournament. It was important to have players who were willing to don the U.S.A. sweater, and do their best for the two weeks.
Due to financial issues with the International Olympic Committee, and a desire by NHL owners not to close down their regular season, the NHL decided to withdraw from the 2018 Olympics in South Korea. In 2020’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NHL and players agreed that they would have their athletes participate in the 2022- and 2026 Olympics. The League can still opt out of Beijing Games if February’s scheduled break (Feb. 4-22) is needed to complete regular-season games that were delayed due to COVID-19.
The NHL announced Dec. 21st, 2021 that the league had joined with the NHL Players’ Association. come to an agreement not to play in Beijing. The League currently has 127 games postponed as a result of positive COVID test results among its teams, and Canada’s restrictions on attendance capacity.
Three NHL players were at that time named to the men’s Olympic roster: Winger, Anderson and Staley. Patrick KaneThe defenseman Seth JonesYou can find the Chicago BlackhawksThe center, and. Auston MatthewsYou can find the Toronto Maple Leafs. Pittsburgh PenguinsMike Sullivan, coach Minnesota WildAfter the NHL pulled out, Bill Gurein, the general manager of the U.S. team, had to step aside from his duties.