United States aims for Olympic gold in ice hockey
PLYMOUTH, Michigan – The United States ice hockey team, expected to field its best team at the Milan Winter Olympics, with the return of NHL players, does not shy away from the pressure. The goal is clear: to win the gold medal.The expectation is to go to Milan and win the gold medal. Anything less than that would be disappointing.
Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights star
The United States has not won an Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey since the historic “Miracle on Ice” of 1980. However, the team is no longer considered a mere “underdog.” Hockey has grown enormously in the United States, with participation having tripled in the 45 years since 1980. With the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years, a golden generation of superstars is preparing for a golden opportunity.
A total of 44 players gathered at the USA Hockey Olympic orientation camp in Plymouth, Michigan. The final roster of 25 players, which will have two more spots than the 4 Nations tournament, will be announced in early January. USA Hockey general manager Bill Guerin was satisfied with the team’s performance in the 4 Nations tournament last February, but regretted the overtime loss to Canada in the final.Expectations are extremely high; they have never been so high. These events give us the opportunity to show that the United States is at the top of the sport.
Mike Sullivan, coach
Guerin’s technical staff faces difficult decisions, including the possibility of including players who were not called up for the 4 Nations tournament. The staff will focus on versatility and adaptation to roles as important assets. Guerin also spoke about establishing a new culture and a new standard for USA Hockey, starting with an emphasis on the World Championships. The United States won gold at this event last May for the first time in 92 years. The American team invited several young members of that team to the orientation camp as a reward for their commitment.That was emotional. It was tough.
Bill Guerin, general manager of USA Hockey
The United States seeks revenge against a very solid Canadian team, which won the 4 Nations tournament with figures like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby.We are doing things differently now, and the world championships are absolutely connected to this. If you say no and don’t have a legitimate excuse, it will hurt you.
Bill Guerin, general manager of USA Hockey
The tournament was a resounding success, with 9.3 million viewers in the United States, marking ESPN’s largest audience for a hockey game. Interest soared after Brady and Matthew Tkachuk starred in a series of three fights in nine seconds to start the first encounter against Canada at the Bell Centre, which, according to Brady Tkachuk, demonstrated “how united we were as a group, and how we were going to do whatever it took to win”. Canada has won nine Olympic gold medals, including the last two in which NHL players participated, in 2010 and 2014. Now, the United States feels it has matched Canada’s depth.We can’t just sit here and say, ‘Good job, you know, it was close.’ That’s not enough. We have to find a way to overcome the obstacle.
Bill Guerin, General Manager of USA Hockey
Quinn Hughes, captain of the Vancouver Canucks, believes that a gold medal will be the culmination of the joint efforts to grow the game.We always used to say that Canada could put two teams on the ice to compete. Well, now, we can put two teams as well. We can put three teams and compete in these events. So I think that says a lot about the growth of the sport in the United States.
Mike Sullivan, coach
USA Hockey has put a lot of work into its youth development programs, its national team development program, and I feel like they’re starting to see the dividends where we have some really, really elite players and the best players in the world. I feel like it’s gold or nothing, personally.
Quinn Hughes, captain of the Vancouver Canucks
