15 of the 25 players on the men’s roster have NHL experience.
By Brandon Schlager
USA Hockey has pulled back the curtain on the players it will take to the 2018 Winter Olympics. And while you may not know some of their names now, part of the intrigue on the road to Pyeongchang, South Korea, will be learning more about this sundry group in the next seven weeks.
The U.S. announced the final rosters for the men’s and women’s teams Monday during the broadcast of the NHL’s Winter Classic amid much anticipation.
In total, 15 on the 25-man roster have previous NHL experience, including U.S. captain Brian Gionta.
Brian Gionta
EDITOR’S NOTE — The Greece, N.Y. native won a Stanley Cup while with the New Jersey Devils. Gionta also captained the Montreal Canadiens, being just the second American-born player to do so, and was captain of the Buffalo Sabres his 3 years, which concluded at the end of last season. He had been practicing with the Rochester Americans to stay in condition for the Olympics since he did not sign with a NHL team, though several teams did express an interest. Gionta, 38, scored four goals in six games while representing Team USA at the Olympic Games in Turin, Italy, in 2006. He has spent this season training in Buffalo and Rochester after captaining the Sabres for the past three seasons. When interviewed during the second intermission of the Winter Classic Monday afternoon, with the Sabres playing the New York Rangers at Citi Field, Gionta did say he was semi-retired. He also said that he was looking forward with a chance to bring the Gold medal back to the United States. Buffalo Sabres defensive prospect William Borgen and former Rochester Americans defenseman Bobby Sanguinetti also were named to the roster.
They come from all corners of the globe — from the NCAA to Russia’s Kontinental Hockey League.
The KHL, regarded as the world’s second-best league next to the NHL, has not said whether it will release players for the Olympics, a delay caused by the International Olympic Committee’s decision to ban Russia from competing in the 2018 Games. In this case, only four U.S. players would be affected. But general manager Jim Johannson said last week he was confident those named to the team Monday will suit up in February.
The final roster decisions were made Wednesday.
The women’s national team, on the other hand, has been training and competing all year. A gold medal favorite at Pyeongchang (unlike the men), the U.S. trimmed its roster from 25 to 23. They return 10 players from the roster that won silver at the 2014 Sochi Games and will be expected to contend with rival Canada once again, serving as USA’s best shot at a gold medal in ice hockey.
You remember the last time the men won: 1980, better known as the “Miracle on Ice.” That roster was comprised entirely of American collegiate players who upset the Soviet Union and Sweden for gold. There will be shades of that narrative this year with four NCAA players on the men’s roster.
2018 U.S. men’s Olympic team
Mark Arcobello F 5-8 (173) 174 (79) 1988-08-12 R Milford, Conn. SC Bern (NLA) Yale University (ECAC)
4 Chad Billins D 5-8 (173) 174 (79) 1989-05-26 L Marysville, Mich. Linköping HC (SHL) Ferris State University (CCHA)
24 Jonathon Blum D 6-1 (185) 187 (85) 1989-01-30 R Ladera Ranch, Calif. Admiral Vladivostok (KHL) –
20 Will Borgen D 6-2 (188) 187 (85) 1996-12-19 R Moorhead, Minn. St. Cloud State University (NCAA) St. Cloud State University (NCHC)
17 Chris Bourque F 5-8 (173) 174 (79) 1986-01-29 L Boston, Mass. Hershey Bears (AHL) Boston University (HEA)
15 Bobby Butler F 6-0 (183) 190 (86) 1987-04-26 R Marlborough, Mass. Milwaukee Admirals (AHL) University of New Hampshire (HEA)
16 Ryan Donato F 6-0 (183) 181(82) 1996-04-09 L Scituate, Mass. Harvard University (NCAA) Harvard University (ECAC)
12 Brian Gionta F 5-7 (170) 179 (81) 1979-01-18 R Rochester, N.Y. Boston College (HEA)
97 Matt Gilroy D 6-2 (188) 203 (92) 1984-07-30 R North Bellemore, N.Y. Jokerit (KHL) Boston University (HEA)
18 Jordan Greenway F 6-6 (197) 227 (103) 1997-02-16 L Canton, N.Y. Boston University (NCAA) Boston University (HEA)
13 Ryan Gunderson D 5-10 (178) 174 (79) 1985-08-16 L Bensalem, Pa. Brynäs IF (SHL) University of Vermont (HEA)
42 Chad Kolarik F 5-11 (180) 183 (83) 1986-01-26 R Abington, Pa. Adler Mannheim (DEL) University of Michigan (CCHA)
14 Broc Little F 5-9 (175) 170 (77) 1988-03-24 L Phoenix, Ariz. HC Davos (NLA) Yale University (ECAC)
7 John McCarthy F 6-1 (185) 195 (88) 1986-08-09 L Boston, Mass. San Jose (AHL) Boston University (HEA)
9 Brian O’Neill F 5-9 (175) 172 (78) 1988-06-01 R Yardley, Pa. Jokerit (KHL) Yale University (ECAC)
11 Garrett Roe F 5-8 (173) 181 (82) 1988-02-22 L Vienna, Va. EV Zug (NLA) St. Cloud State University (WCHA)
22 Bobby Sanguinetti D 6-3 (191) 190 (86) 1988-02-29 R Trenton, N.J. HC Lugano (NLA) –
19 Jim Slater F 6-0 (183) 190 (86) 1982-12-09 L Lapeer, Mich. Fribourg-Gotteron (NLA) Michigan State University (CCHA)
94 Ryan Stoa F 6-3 (191) 212 (96) 1987-04-13 L Bloomington, Minn. Spartak Moskva (KHL) University of Minnesota (WCHA)
23 Troy Terry F 6-1 (185) 174 (79) 1997-09-10 R Highlands Ranch, Colo. University of Denver (NCAA) University of Denver (NCHC)
5 Noah Welch D 6-4 (193) 220 (100) 1982-08-26 L Brighton, Mass. Växjö Lakers (SHL) Harvard University (ECAC)
21 James Wisniewski D 5-11 (180) 203 (92) 1984-02-21 R Canton, Mich. EC Kassel Huskies (DEL2) –
30 Ryan Zapolski G 6-0 (183)