Depth Depth is a ‘Luxury’ for the US that could come big at the Milan Olympics in 2026

Montreal (AP) – When Jeremy Swayman played Hockey for Alaska Jr. ACES and at South Anchorage High School, he did not have a target trainer and his home state did not have a goalkeeper school.

“Now there are two or three, just in Alaska alone, so you can only imagine what it’s like around the United States,” said Swayman. “To see how important they are understood to be now, that’s a reason why we produce so many good goalies.”

Swayman is one of the great goalies – too many for the US Hockey to choose them all for 4 Nations Face-off And that kind of embarrassment over wealth that gives the United States a legitimate chance to win gold at the Milan Olympics in 2026. The depth is so strong with Connor Hellebuyck at the top, and Jake Oettinger also in the tournament that Swayman may not even dress and a Elite goalkeeper like Thatcher Demko did not get cut.

“We feel pretty spoiled right now with the level that the Goaltending is on in the US,” said general manager Bill Guerin on Tuesday. “You need good goals to win – great goal – and we have a lot of different options. It’s a luxury. We feel very lucky. “

Top Center Jack Eichel called it a “good problem to have” for coach Mike Sullivan and his staff to choose who is going into the net. Sullivan will not say, though Hellebuyck is on his way to winning Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalkeeper for the third time in six seasons and characters to get nodded.

Hellebuyck said that playing for the United States is something that has pretty much escaped him throughout his career.

“The NHL was not allowed to go to the last Olympics, so we missed this opportunity,” he said. “So you never know, do you have to get another shot? And you have to stay in your prime for when this option comes. “

Reality is Hellebuyck, Oettinger, Swayman and Demko are all in their prime. Any of them could be the guy in Milan.

“It’s pretty incredible,” said American Captain Auston Matthews. “Playing against them, it’s nice to be on the other side now. But I think Goaltending, it’s definitely an advantage that every team wants, whether it’s international tournaments, Olympics or just in the NHL. But I feel we are pretty lucky to have three guys who are some of the best in the league. “

It’s no coincidence. The US Hockey started the Warren Strelow goalkeeper program in 2008 and has dedicated resources to catching up with Canada, Russia, Finland, Sweden and other countries in the most important position of the sport.

“I grew up in the US Hockey did Strelow and all these target camps, and they always proud to be No. 1 country for targets,” said Oettinger, who helped Dallas Stars reach the Western Conference Final last year. “I know that all the things I did with them helped me to be here, and the development process that I went through with the US Hockey has helped me to separate myself and put myself in the position I am in now . ”

Swayman said in his first season as the undisputed starter for Boston Bruins, the goal is that 51 % of the NHL -Goalenders are from the US of the 92 who have appeared in a game this season, just 19 are US, just over 20 % .

But this group includes some of the best around Hellebuyck, Oettinger and Swayman. Dustin Wolf is a major reason why Calgary is a challenger Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll have Toronto square in the mix and Charlie Lindgren comes out of carrying Washington into the playoffs last year.

Hellebuyck is, however, the shining example Winnipeg hovering to the top of the NHL position And sitting at the pace of breaking the singing season wins a record.

“I don’t want to get his ego too loud, but I just think his mind may be able to think the game and constantly learn, I think it’s one of the biggest aspects,” said Jets and American teammate Kyle Connor . “He is never satisfied and just seems so calm in the net and is just a great presence. This mentality by just wanting to be the best and pushing yourself every day it’s fun to watch. “

Swayman wasn’t even born even the last time the United States won an international tournament with the NHL’s best players, the World Cup in 1996, so he is too young to have seen Mike Richter and goalkeepers in that Ilk. But on 26 he is already conscious of being responsible for keeping standard high.

“It’s my job, and it’s obviously Hellebuyck’s job and Oettinger’s job to continue it for the next generation of goalies,” said Swayman. “I know how inspiring it was for me to me to see Jonathan Quick and Ryan Miller and guys who have really paved the way for US goals from the US to make noise in the NHL and on the global scene.”

It is scary to think that these goalies may just be at the forefront of curling dominance for the US

“I know we are all very proud of it,” said Oettinger. “Hopefully we can continue to put good goalies in the NHL, and I think the future is just getting better and better.”

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