Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Olympics to Feature NCAA Players

32 players representing 19 schools poised to compete for gold in Sochi.


Olympics to Feature NCAA Players
Swedish Olympian Carl Hagelin had 152 points in his four-year career at Michigan

Updated: Mathias Lange and Andreas Nodl were added to the Austrian Olympic team Jan. 14

Bowling Green sophomore defenseman Ralfs Freibergs and 11 former college hockey stars have been named to their country’s Olympic rosters, joining 20 NCAA alums who will represent the United States in Sochi, Russia, next month.

Freibergs, a native of Riga, Latvia, will play for Latvia and is the only current NCAA player selected for the Olympics. He has posted 16 points in 24 games for the Falcons this season, leading their defensemen and ranking third on the team in scoring. He will be the first current NCAA player to appear in the men’s Olympic tournament since four players did so in 2002.

Canada has four former college players on its Olympic roster: Duncan Keith (Michigan State), Chris Kunitz (Ferris State), Patrick Sharp (Vermont) and Jonathan Toews (North Dakota).

Michigan alums Carl Hagelin and Brian Lebler will join former Wolverines teammate Max Pacioretty (U.S.) in Sochi. Hagelin will make his first Olympic appearance for Sweden, while Lebler is one of six former NCAA players on Austria. Austria also named Thomas Vanek (Minnesota), Mathias Lange (RPI), Andreas Nodl (St. Cloud State), Thomas Pock (Massachusetts) and Mattias Trattnig (Maine) to its Olympic team.

In all, 19 NCAA programs will have a representative in the men’s Olympic tournament in Sochi.

Former NCAA Players in the 2014 Sochi Olympics

Country/Player Pos. Current Team NCAA Team
Austria
Mathias Lange G Iserlohn (GER) Rensselaer
Brian Lebler F EHC Linz (AUT) Michigan
Andreas Nodl F Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) St. Cloud State
Thomas Pock D KAC Klagenfurt (AUT) Massachusetts
Mattias Trattnig D Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) Maine
Thomas Vanek F NY Islanders (NHL) Minnesota
Canada
Duncan Keith D Chicago (NHL) Michigan State
Chris Kunitz F Pittsburgh (NHL) Ferris State
Patrick Sharp F Chicago (NHL) Vermont
Jonathan Toews F Chicago (NHL) North Dakota
Latvia
Ralfs Freibergs D Bowling Green
Sweden
Carl Hagelin F NY Rangers (NHL) Michigan
United States
Jimmy Howard G Detroit (NHL) Maine
Ryan Miller G Buffalo (NHL) Michigan State
Jonathan Quick G Los Angeles (NHL) Massachusetts
Justin Faulk D Carolina (NHL) Minnesota Duluth
Paul Martin D Pittsburgh (NHL) Minnesota
Ryan McDonagh D NY Rangers (NHL) Wisconsin
Brooks Orpik D Pittsburgh (NHL) Boston College
Kevin Shattenkirk D St. Louis (NHL) Boston University
Ryan Suter D Minnesota (NHL) Wisconsin
David Backes F St. Louis (NHL) Minnesota State
Ryan Kesler F Vancouver (NHL) Ohio State
Phil Kessel F Toronto (NHL) Minnesota
T.J. Oshie F St. Louis (NHL) North Dakota
Max Pacioretty F Montreal (NHL) Michigan
Zach Parise F Minnesota (NHL) North Dakota
Joe Pavelski F San Jose (NHL) Wisconsin
Paul Stastny F Colorado (NHL) Denver
Derek Stepan F NY Rangers (NHL) Wisconsin
James van Riemsdyk F Toronto (NHL) New Hampshire
Blake Wheeler F Winnipeg (NHL) Minnesota

Olympians by NCAA School

Boston College: Brooks Orpik (US)

Boston University: Kevin Shattenkirk (US)

Bowling Green: Ralfs Freibergs (LAT)

Denver: Paul Stastny (US)

Ferris State: Chris Kunitz (CAN)

Maine: Jimmy Howard (US), Mattias Trattnig (AUT)

Massachusetts: Thomas Pock (AUT), Jonathan Quick (US)

Michigan: Carl Hagelin (SWE), Brian Lebler (AUT), Max Pacioretty (US)

Michigan State: Duncan Keith (CAN), Ryan Miller (US)

Minnesota: Phil Kessel (US), Paul Martin (US), Thomas Vanek (AUT), Blake Wheeler (US)

Minnesota Duluth: Justin Faulk (US)

Minnesota State: David Backes (US)

New Hampshire: James van Riemsdyk (US)

North Dakota: T.J. Oshie (US), Zach Parise (US), Jonathan Toews (CAN)

Ohio State: Ryan Kesler (US)

Vermont: Patrick Sharp (CAN)

Wisconsin: Ryan McDonagh (US), Joe Pavelski (US), Derek Stepan (US), Ryan Suter (US)