The United States has won the most medals at seven of the last eight Summer Olympics, but they haven’t led the Winter Games since 1932.
When it comes to hockey, their record is nothing special, either. Remember the movie “Miracle,” which recounts the 1980 team’s underdog victory? That’s still the men’s team’s most recent gold medal.
They’ve done a little better on the women’s side, with two golds, four silvers and a bronze — but having lost to Canada in 2022, they’ve got some work to do, too.
Here’s everything you need to know to support the stars and stripes in Olympic hockey this year.
USA Olympic hockey schedule
Team USA’s preliminary games are as follows, with all times listed in MST:
Women’s team
- Feb. 5: USA vs. Czechia, 8:40 a.m.
- Feb. 7: USA vs. Finland, 8:40 a.m.
- Feb. 9: USA vs. Switzerland, 12:40 p.m.
- Feb. 10: USA vs. Canada, 12:10 p.m.
Men’s team
- Feb. 12: USA vs. Latvia, 1:10 p.m.
- Feb. 14: USA vs. Denmark, 1:10 p.m.
- Feb. 15: USA vs. Germany, 1:10 p.m.
Players to watch
Hilary Knight
Patrick Kane just broke the record for most NHL points by an American-born player, but Hilary Knight from Sun Valley, Idaho, is probably the most legendary American to ever lace up a pair of hockey skates.
It’s Knight’s fifth Olympic Games, the most by any American hockey player — ever. Her trophy room includes a gold and three silvers from the Olympics, as well as 10 golds and five silvers from the World Championship — in addition to a pair of NCAA championships.
She has been the captain of the program since the 2023 World Championship, meaning this will be her first Olympics with the “C.” Having announced that this will be her final trip to the Games, she’s hoping for the best possible sendoff.
Knight spends much of her time in the off-season training in Utah, where she owns a home. She’s a champion of the girls’ hockey programs in the state.
Kendall Coyne Schofield
Speaking of American legends, Kendall Coyne Schofield is making her fourth Olympic appearance. The 33-year-old is tied for the Professional Women’s Hockey League lead in points this season, and she’s second all-time in the same category.
She has won the PWHL title, the Walter Cup, both years of the league’s existence, and her list of international accomplishments is almost as long as Knight’s.
Taylor Heise
The next generation of American women’s hockey is in the hands of Taylor Heise, among a few others. She was the PWHL’s first-ever draft pick, going first-overall to the Minnesota Frost, who would win the league’s first two championships with her on the team.
This is her first time at the Olympics, and it likely won’t be her last.
Quinn Hughes
You’d be hard-pressed to find a knowledgeable hockey fan who believes Quinn Hughes is any lower than the second-best defenseman in the world — and there are many who classify him as number one.
He’s one of three Hughes brothers in the NHL. Jack, a forward, joins him on Team USA’s roster, while Luke, a fellow defenseman (and a teammate of Jack’s with the New Jersey Devils), is still working to achieve his full potential.
In 25 games since being traded to the Minnesota Wild earlier this season, Hughes has scored points in all but seven. At the time of writing, his point streak is at nine games. That’s the type of offense he’s expected to bring to the Olympic team — as well as his best-in-class defensive play.
Jack Eichel
As the 11th-highest scorer in the NHL and the highest-scoring American, the expectations of Jack Eichel are enormous. But it wasn’t always that way.
Being drafted one spot behind Connor McDavid in 2015, Eichel was supposed to save the Buffalo Sabres. After six seasons of failing to make the playoffs, he and the team’s medical staff had such a big disagreement on what kind of surgery he should get, he ended up getting stripped of the captaincy.
He forced a trade, landing with the always excellent Vegas Golden Knights. But as soon as he arrived, they missed the playoffs for the first time ever.
Something changed in 2022–23. He made the playoffs and went on to win the Stanley Cup. He’s been more than a point-per-game player every season since then, in addition to playing a significant defensive role.
American hockey fans can expect strong two-way play from Eichel, as well as an ability to elevate his game in the big moments.
Clayton Keller
Utah Mammoth fans are more than familiar with their captain, Clayton Keller. After being snubbed from the 4 Nations Face-Off team last year, he was pleased to make the squad this time around.
Keller is among the league’s best playmakers, but because he has played in small markets his entire career, he doesn’t get as much credit as his peers. He plays with the type of fire that you always want to see from your top players and has developed a reputation for scoring clutch goals.
“Clayton Clutch” is what they’re calling him these days.
