USA Hockey men's Olympic team: 4 Wolverines, several others from Michigan off to Beijing
USA Hockey announced the final men's roster for the Beijing Olympics on Thursday and there is plenty of local flavor.
Two players from the Michigan hockey team, among the most talented college teams in the nation, made the cut. Forward Matty Beniers, the second pick in the 2021 NHL draft and the youngest player on the team at 19 years old, is joined by forward Brendan Brisson, 21, the 29th overall pick in the 2020 draft.
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Those two are joined by former Wolverine defenseman Steven Kampfer, 33, who played in the NHL for Boston, Minnesota, Florida and the N.Y. Rangers. He currently plays in the Swedish Hockey League.
Also on the team is goalie Stauss Mann, 23, who completed his college career last season. He is also in the Swedish league.
Also on the team is defenseman Drew Helleson (Farmington Hills), 20, who plays at Boston College, forward Andy Miele (Grosse Pointe Woods), 33, who has played for the Coyotes in the NHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL, and goalie Pat Nagle (Bloomfield Township), 35, the oldest player on the team and a former Griffin as recently as last season.
After originally being allowed back into Olympic competition, the NHL pulled its players out of the running for the Games last month.
While the original plan was for the NHL to pause for the Olympics, which begin in early February, the league will likely try to make up previously postponed games due to the pandemic. The college hockey season is not scheduled to pause during the Beijing Games.
The team will be coached by David Quinn and was selected by U.S. Olympic hockey general manager and Detroit native John Vanbiesbrouck.
Contact Kirkland Crawford: kcrawford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @HiKirkHere.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: USA Hockey Olympic team: 4 Michigan hockey players make squad
