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M H J O N L I N E . C O M | J A N / F E B 2 0 2 6 20 M N > M I L A N 2 0 2 6 W O M E N 1. RORY GUILDAY Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association 2. LEE STECKLEIN Roseville Youth Hockey Association 3. TAYLOR HEISE Red Wing Youth Hockey Association 4. KELLY PANNEK Armstrong Cooper Youth Hockey Association 5. GRACE ZUMWINKLE Minnetonka Youth Hockey Association M E N 6. BROCK FABER Osseo-Maple Grove Youth Hockey Association 7. JAKE GUENTZEL Woodbury Youth Hockey Association 8. JAKE OETTINGER Lakeville Youth Hockey Association 9. BROCK NELSON Warroad Youth Hockey Association MINNESOTA NICE Boys in Red, White and Blue We all know the lore: the United States has not claimed Gold at the Winter Olympics since 1980. The 2010 Vancouver Games, where NHL players also participated, gave Team USA its closest taste since then with an eventual 3-2 overtime loss in the gold medal game to hosts Hockey Canada. "That whole tournament was one of my favorite hockey experiences," Bloomington native and 2010 member Zach Parise said. "Going in as an underdog and all of a sudden, we beat Canada in the round-robin and we get the bye, which I don't think anyone was expecting. We just kept playing better and better as the tournament went on and you find yourself in the championship against the home team. "That building in there in Vancouver, it was incredible. You could feel the importance of every single play. It was so awesome. I've never played in a Cup Final, Game 7, but this was so awesome. And for us to wind up just one goal away from winning the gold medal. I wish it would have gone the other way but looking back on it and to be a part of that game and be a part of that list of play- ers, to be with some guys who are going to go down as the best to ever play the game, definitely one of my favorite hockey memories." The 2014 U.S. squad had its moments in Sochi, Russia but finished fourth. And the strictly amateur Games in 2018 saw Team USA place seventh while the 2022 Beijing Games improved the U.S. to fifth place. Now, in 2026, it's the next generation's turn. It's a group of players that hasn't had the opportunity to play in a best-on-best capacity until the NHL hosted the 4 Nations Face- Off last February. "You look at the players that are going to be in, all these guys that unfortunately 10 years in their career we haven't seen them play with or against each other in the Olympics," said Parise, who captained the 2018 team and was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame this past December. "It's going to be really, really good hockey." From Overlooked to the Olympics Guentzel is one of those guys who is soaking in the oppor- tunity more than most. At 30 years old, he was a "rookie" on the Team USA 4 Nations Roster, representing his country for the first time in his illustrious career. "I was always kind of a late bloomer, so I never really was on the radar for U.S. camps and stuff like that," Guentzel explained. "Even when I did get an invite, I didn't usually make it too deep. So, to get that call for 4 Nations was really, really special." Guentzel certainly seemed like a no-brainer to bolster Team USA's offensive prowess. Since entering the NHL scene in 2016, the Hill-Murray alum has tallied 282 goals, including three 40-goal seasons. He has a Stanley Cup (2017 Pittsburgh Penguins) and ranks fourth among US-born players in goals (107) and ninth in points (230) over the last three years. Guentzel notched three goals and an assist enroute to a runner-up finish at 4 Nations. Photo / USA Hockey, Getty Images Minnesota sends five women and four men to Milan for the 2026 Olympic Games 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 Taylor Heise Red Wing