Team USA banking on bond to lead the way to mens…
MILAN — Team USA normal supervisor Bill Guerin added only three new gamers to his Olympic squad who didn’t compete in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off event.
The Stars’ Jason Robertson and the Canadiens’ Cole Caufield — and the 32 targets they each posted through 57 video games — demanded consideration. Even the 21-year-old Lane Hutson of the Habs compelled his way into the dialog as the third-highest producing defenseman in the NHL this season.
But it was not enough for Guerin to see past what he and everyone else on Team USA skilled in Montreal and Boston in February 2025.
An extraordinary bond was born inside Team USA at 4 Nations. Those who had been around the United States at the precursor to Milano Cortina 2026 describe a type of gravitational pull within the group.
Guerin and Team USA coach Mike Sullivan have been forthcoming about how a lot that crew’s chemistry, camaraderie and buy-in factored into Olympic choices. It might have even taken priority over other determinants. That fact just isn’t misplaced on the American gamers who touched down in Milan Sunday morning.
“I think right there, I mean, that’s one of the reasons I think I’m going is because of that,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller told The Post before he left for his first Olympic Games. “There’s so many good gamers on the market, but I feel that we had such a chemistry as a crew and there was a dedication to need to win the sport even though we just got here together a week before. We all felt that. It was real. I feel that’s why that crew is basically the same. We performed so nicely in that event, had a lot of accidents. The last sport may’ve went either way.
“I don’t know, I feel we just all felt that. I can’t converse on behalf of Billy or Mike, but that wasn’t pretend. We felt what that felt like. I’m sure there’s a purpose into why most of us are going back. It was a enjoyable crew to be around. Super high-end crew. Some of the gamers are — the quantity of Hall of Famers that are going to come out of this, proper? It’s fairly particular just to even be related with these guys. So I really feel very fortunate and lucky.
Brady Tkachuk #7, Matthew Tkachuk #19, Quinn Hughes #43 and Jack Hughes #86 of Team United States pose for images during training. Getty Images
“But when it’s that time, I’m going to do what I can, but I’m going to be myself. I’m going to act like I am here [in New York] and be myself. I know that’s probably why I got selected. So I’m just going to keep doing that.”
The crew bonded at 4 Nations over shared experiences coming through the U.S. National Team Development Program, where so many of them overlapped from class to class. No matter how many years separated them, the tales had been all the actual same, just with different gamers.
Matthew Tkachuk said his abdomen harm from laughing so a lot.
They collectively devoted the event to the late Johnny Gaudreau, who all of them had crossed paths with at some level in their respective hockey careers. His No. 13 jersey hung in every dressing room they moved to. Team USA even invited his father, Guy Gaudreau, to take part in observe, crew images and a crew dinner.
Team USA relished the villain function. The three fights in 9 seconds, which kicked off the first USA-Canada sport and put the 4 Nations event on the map, had been coordinated in a group chat that the Tkachuk brothers couldn’t help but reveal in the aftermath.
Head coach Mike Sullivan, JT Miller #10 and Vincent Trocheck #16 of Team United States discuss during training on day three of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Getty Images
Social clips confirmed the U.S. locker room laughing and singing Aerosmith’s “Dream On” after successful that sport 3-1.
“It was pretty incredible how we were able to come together and gel so quickly and almost turn into a family,” Vincent Trocheck told The Post. “I think it helps whenever you get into games like we did last year. A game like the one against Canada where it’s so high intensity, like a true playoff Stanley Cup environment. That kind of brings everybody together even more. This is something that I feel like you go to a tournament like the Olympics, those guys end up being family for the rest of your life.”
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In such a short event, a preestablished sense of togetherness is invaluable.
As Miller put it, an atmosphere where you possibly can go from relentlessly chirping one another to going to battle together. One where you’ll do something for the man in the locker room stall next to you, including accepting a function vastly different from the one you’re used to at the NHL degree.
If this crew can seize gold, will probably be the X-factor historical past factors to.
If Team USA can’t avenge its second-place end to Canada at 4 Nations, will probably be thought-about the detriment.
“That chemistry was a competitive advantage for us,” Sullivan said. “That’s how we felt being a part of it. It was pretty awesome to watch. I know that was something that was prioritized going into this experience and we’re looking forward to competing.”
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