Ahead of USA Hockey’s roster unveiling tomorrow of the 25-man contingent that will head to Beijing for the 2022 Winter Olympics, a few names of players named to the team are leaking today. Per the Grand Forks Herald’s Brad Elliott Schlossman, one of those players is University of North Dakota defenseman (and Ottawa Senators prospect) Jake Sanderson. Sanderson, the fifth overall pick in 2020, has 22 points through 17 games as an assistant captain at UND. He’ll undoubtedly be a huge part of Team USA’s blueline in Beijing.
More Olympic notes for USA Hockey:
- Seattle Kraken prospect Matty Beniers will also be on the final roster, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler reports. The 6’1″, 174-lb center is enjoying a great sophomore season at the University of Michigan with 26 points in 22 games. He’ll also likely be one of the team’s big go-to players without NHL talent on the team.
- A second University of Michigan player will be going, per Wheeler — Vegas Golden Knights pick Brendan Brisson. The team’s 29th overall pick in 2020 has 27 points in 23 games there this year, and while he might not play as prominent a role as Beniers on the team, he’s a great two-way center who should be a great energy player for Team USA.
I seriously can’t believe anyone would willingly go to China considering their covid situation, not to mention their other political actions. I admire that they want to represent their countries, but the time and place is just wrong.
Well Covid is no different than the flu or common cold and they had plenty of Olympics for years with those. About the same mortality rate with those as well. Don’t be dumb. They are competing because there are no more Dangers than any Olympics in the past. As for the politics, yeah they suck but if they don’t compete then you’re letting them get last laugh
Exactly. Everyone knows that 800,000 is the same as 30,000!
You just drink your own urine and the Covid goes away, no big deal! Don’t be dumb!
Because the opportunity to represent your country in the Olympics doesn’t come around once, but every few years.. Especially for these guys, if they flop in the NHL (or at the very least aren’t a star player) they may not get another chance to play for their country. Makes sense to me, I’d go too in their positions.
Regardless of the severity of covid, the quarantine rules in China are very draconian. Would you want to be quarantined for two weeks in China before you can come back home? Don’t be dumb. ;)
What’s so wrong with that? Staying 2 weeks somewhere you don’t want to be for what might be a once in a lifetime opportunity? Regardless of these guys being highly regarded prospects at the end of the day they’re still humans and young adults. Me being 27, I can look past the BS to fulfill what would be a dream.
At the end of the day is there risk? Sure, nobody denies that but, if there’s a girl that you really wanna ask out but, you are worried she’ll turn you down and it’s too risky and don’t end up doing it, the only person losing is you. (Obviously that scenario and hockey are different but, the fact remains true!)