Beniers, Sanderson headline USA's 2022 men's Olympic hockey roster
Team USA revealed its men's Olympic hockey squad Thursday for the upcoming 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.
With NHL players no longer attending the international competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States' lineup is a mix of prospects and journeymen. Sixteen of the 25 players are 23 years old or younger, while six of the remaining nine are 30 or over.
Here's the full 25-man roster:
Forwards
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Abruzzese | 22 | Harvard (NCAA) | TOR |
| Ken Agostino | 29 | Torpedo (KHL) | None |
| Matty Beniers | 19 | Michigan (NCAA) | SEA |
| Brendan Brisson | 20 | Michigan (NCAA) | VGK |
| Noah Cates | 22 | Minnesota-Duluth (NCAA) | PHI |
| Sean Farrell | 20 | Harvard (NCAA) | MTL |
| Sam Hentges | 22 | St. Cloud State (NCAA) | MIN |
| Matthew Knies | 19 | Minnesota (NCAA) | TOR |
| Marc McLaughlin | 22 | Boston College (NCAA) | None |
| Ben Meyers | 23 | Minnesota (NCAA) | None |
| Andy Miele | 33 | Torpedo (KHL) | None |
| Brian O'Neill | 33 | Jokerit (KHL) | None |
| Nick Shore | 29 | Novosibirsk (KHL) | None |
| Nathan Smith | 23 | Minnesota State (NCAA) | WPG |
Beniers, drafted second overall in 2021, and Brisson, selected 29th overall in 2020, are the most highly touted forwards on the team. Knies, a second-rounder in 2021, has impressed in his freshman year at Minnesota and is a name to watch.
Shore is the most experienced ex-NHLer of the group, having played in 299 career games with the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets.
Defensemen
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Cooper | 28 | IK Oskarshamn (SHL) | None |
| Brock Faber | 19 | Minnesota (NCAA) | LA |
| Drew Helleson | 20 | Boston College (NCAA) | COL |
| Steven Kampfer | 33 | Ak Bars Kazan (KHL) | None |
| Aaron Ness | 31 | Providence (AHL) | None |
| Nick Perbix | 23 | St. Cloud State (NCAA) | TB |
| Jake Sanderson | 19 | North Dakota (NCAA) | OTT |
| David Warsofsky | 31 | Ingolstadt (DEL) | None |
Despite their age, Faber and Sanderson could log heavy minutes for this blue line. Sanderson, the No. 5 pick in 2020, won a world junior gold with the U.S. in 2021 and was the captain for this year's team before the tournament was canceled. Faber, a second-rounder in 2020, was also a returning member of Team USA's world junior squad.
Kampfer (231 NHL games) is the most seasoned member of the blue line and will be counted on for experience.
Goalies
| Player | Age | Current Team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drew Commesso | 19 | Boston University (NCAA) | CHI |
| Strauss Mann | 23 | Skelleftea (SHL) | None |
| Pat Nagle | 34 | Lehigh Valley (AHL) | None |
It's hard to project who might get the call between the pipes to open the tournament, but Mann has posted a .930 save percentage in Sweden this year following a stellar NCAA career at Michigan.
The last time NHL players attended the Olympics was in the 2014 Sochi Games, where the United States took fourth place after falling to Finland in the bronze-medal game. Team USA failed to reach the podium again in 2018.
The United States' men's team hasn't captured a medal since winning silver during the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.
Team USA will hit the ice for the first time at the Olympics in a preliminary-round clash against China on Feb. 10.