Team USA 'excited' for Beijing gold-medal bid

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The United States' goalkeeper Cal Petersen (R) tries to make a save during the Group B match between Finland and the United States at the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship in Riga, Latvia, May 22, 2021. (Photo by Edijs Palens/Xinhua)

Fifteen current NCAA players and eight from European clubs were among the 25-man USA Hockey roster for Beijing 2022.

"We're excited about the roster we've put together," said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2022 US Olympic men's ice hockey team.

"The Olympics are the biggest stage in sports and it was fun to hear the enthusiasm our players have to represent their country. We're fortunate to have a deep talent pool-thanks in part to all the great work of our volunteers in communities across the nation-and with the mix of players who are part of our team, we're looking forward to competing for a gold medal in Beijing," Vanbiesbrouck noted.

Brian O'Neill, one of five players from the Russia-based Kontinental Hockey League on the US roster, is the lone returning Olympian after playing for Team USA in Pyeongchang 2018.

Instead of stars from NHL teams, the Beijing Olympics will witness talents from lower leagues, as did Pyeongchang 2018 where the Olympic Athletes from Russia took the gold medal.

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