Beijing Olympics Will Showcase Hockey’s Next Generation
Jan 20, 2022, 3:37 PM
Kevin Labanc (M) #62 of the United States celebrates scoring for 0-2 and celebrates his goal with Matty Beniers (R) #10 and Colin Blackwell (L) #43 of the United States during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Italy and United States at Arena Riga on June 1, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
(Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
(AP) – Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon will not get to play at the Olympics for the first time since the NHL is not sending players to Beijing.
The men’s hockey tournament instead could be a showcase of the next generation of hockey talent.
Most recent top NHL draft pick Owen Power is expected to suit up for Canada.
🎥 #BAAG highlights! 🤯
Full coverage → https://t.co/nr06knrhZ5 pic.twitter.com/okBnldDy0P
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) January 18, 2022
Michigan teammate Matty Beniers is one of eight players under age 21 playing for the United States.
They could follow the lead of Kirill Kaprizov, Miro Heiskanen and Troy Terry, who starred in the 2018 Olympics before reaching the NHL.
