Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin has been selected to represent Team USA at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy. This announcement was made on the “Today” show, unveiling a roster of 25 players for the prestigious event. Hanifin joins his teammate Jack Eichel, who was among the first players named to the squad back in June.
The 25-year-old Hanifin is set to make his Olympic debut alongside Eichel, who hails from Boston and is 28 years old. Hanifin previously participated in the U.S. roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off held in February, showcasing his skills on the international stage. With 14 points in 28 games this season, he is averaging 23:36 of ice time per game, marking the second highest of his career. In a recent game against the Nashville Predators, he logged a career-high 29:59 of ice time, despite the Golden Knights suffering a 4-2 defeat.
Team USA will kick off its Olympic campaign on February 12, 2024, against Latvia. The duo of Hanifin and Eichel also represented the U.S. in the 4 Nations, where they fell to Canada in the final after a closely contested match that ended 3-2 in overtime. Eichel currently leads with 41 points in 31 games, building on his outstanding previous season in which he achieved 94 points and a plus-32 rating. His performance last year earned him a spot as a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy and a top-five finish for the Selke Trophy.
This Olympic roster marks a significant representation for the Golden Knights, with a total of six players set to don their national jerseys. In addition to Hanifin and Eichel, Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore were announced as members of Team Canada, while Jonas Rondbjerg has been named to Denmark’s team. Bruce Cassidy, head coach of the Golden Knights, will serve as an assistant coach on Team Canada under Jon Cooper.
Team USA’s general manager, Bill Guerin, expressed the challenges faced in finalizing the roster, acknowledging the depth of talent across the nation. “It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong,” Guerin stated. He emphasized the significance of the Olympics, assuring that the players and staff would represent the country with pride and dedication to achieve their ultimate goal.
Notably, former Golden Knights forward Alex Tuch was not selected for the Olympic roster. Tuch, who was pivotal in the trade that brought Eichel to Las Vegas in November 2021, currently ranks second on the Buffalo Sabres with 32 points in 38 games. Other prominent players overlooked for Team USA include Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who is tied for third in the league with 24 goals, and Cole Caufield of the Montreal Canadiens, who has netted 20 goals this season.
As the Winter Olympics approach, the excitement builds for both the athletes and their supporters, with many eager to see how Team USA will perform on the global stage.
