USA Hockey announces Olympic rosters
By @MichaelCaples –
Despite no NHL participation in the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games, there will be plenty of Michigan names to watch.
USA Hockey revealed its men’s, women’s and Paralympic rosters today, and here are the names that the Michigan hockey audience will be excited to see on the lists:
Men’s Team
Chad Billins – Marysville native – Ferris State alum, Grand Rapids Griffins alum
Jim Slater – Lapeer native – Michigan State alum
James Wisniewski – Canton native – Plymouth Whalers alum
Chad Kolarik – Abington, Penn., native – Michigan alum
“We really like our roster,” said Jim Johannson, general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and also the assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “It’s a group that brings versatility and experience and includes players who have a lot of passion about representing our country.”
Fifteen of the players on the U.S. roster – which will be captained by Brian Gionta – have NHL experience. Other notable names on the roster include recent NTDP products and college players Jordan Greenway and Troy Terry, as well as St. Cloud State’s Will Borgen and Harvard’s Ryan Donato.
Women’s Team
Megan Keller – Farmington native
“Today we took another step closer towards achieving our ultimate goal, which is to bring home a gold medal from South Korea,” said Reagan Carey, general manager of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team and also the director of women’s hockey for USA Hockey, “We’ve had an exceptional four months in Wesley Chapel leading up to this point and are confident that these 23 women give our country the best opportunity to reach the top of the podium in February.”
Paralympic Team
No Michigan natives
“As a whole, this team has all the ingredients to be successful,” said Dan Brennan, director of sled hockey for USA Hockey and general manager of the 2018 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team. “We’re going to be a fast-paced, puck-moving team that is led by a great core of veterans who knows what it takes to win.”