Though the official announcement is still an hour away, Frank Seravalli and Chris Peters of Daily Faceoff are reporting all 25 players that are expected to be named to Team USA for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. The group includes players from the NCAA, AHL, and several overseas leagues.
The roster will be:
G Drew Commesso
G Strauss Mann
G Pat Nagle
D Brian Cooper
D Brock Faber
D Drew Helleson
D Steven Kampfer
D Aaron Ness
D Nick Perbix
D Jake Sanderson
D David Warsofsky
F Nick Abruzzese
F Kenny Agostino
F Matty Beniers
F Brendan Brisson
F Noah Cates
F Sean Farrell
F Sam Hentges
F Matthew Knies
F Marc McLaughlin
F Ben Meyers
F Andy Miele
F Brian O’Neill
F Nick Shore
F Nathan Smith
This group has a huge college contingent and also includes several players who were robbed of an opportunity to compete for a World Junior medal this year when the tournament was canceled.
In all, 13 NHL prospects are included on the team, including Beniers, the first-ever draft pick in Seattle Kraken history. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the only club with two prospects, as Minnesota freshman Knies and Harvard sophomore Abruzzese both made the squad.
The tournament is set to kick-off for the U.S. on February 10 when they take on China, a nation that was given entry to the tournament because it is hosting the event.
Reid Boucher should be playing. I hope for his sake he turned down an invite
there’s a Sam Hentges that plays hockey?
Now that’s what a Olympic hockey roster should look like…
While I wish it included the best American players aka NHLers… It’s fun to go heavy with the college kids… it’s gives the team a 1980’s feel to it. Especially when they play Russia… sorry Athletes from Russia or whatever their dumb name is now.
I only wish that everybody makes it back home safely and quickly. As for the games themselves, I do not care.
Strauss Mann means Ostrich Man in german
These games will be fun I think. For probably 95% of these players, it’s going to be the most important hockey they’ll ever play. Hopefully the product on the ice shows that.