7 Natives Aim to Lift U.S. Men’s Squad

For the second straight Winter Olympic games, amateur and non-NHL professional players will participate after finishing seventh in 2018. This year’s roster features a markedly younger approach featuring 15 current NCAA players. With an average age of 25.1 years, it is the youngest U.S. Olympic roster since 1994 (22.4).

The U.S. Men’s Olympic team will include ten Minnesotans, including four defensemen, three forwards, two coaches and the team's physician.

"It’s an incredible honor. Growing up in this state, it’s just iconic to see the red, white and blue. It’s a dream come true for every hockey player and something I probably won’t be able to put into words until I try it for the first time," Ben Meyers told Fox 9.

Learn more about the Minnesotans below and the entire U.S. Men’s Olympic team here.

Fun Fact: Since the first Winter Olympics in 1920, 113 different Minnesotans have participated on the men’s Olympic hockey team (many multiple times).

Drew Helleson, defense, Farmington - Led defensemen in goals en route to gold at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship gold. The Boston College blue-liner has seven points in 14 games with Team USA.

Nick Perbix, defense, Elk River - This marks just the second time with Team USA for Perbix (five games at the 2018 World Jr. A Challenge). The Huskies defenseman has 53 assists and 70 points in 122 games of his college career.

Sam Hentges, forward, New Brighton - The 6-foot forward and crafty centerman has 29 goals and 70 points in 101 games with St. Cloud State.

Brock Faber, defense, Maple Grove - One of three current Gophers on the roster, Faber won gold with the U.S. World Junior team in 2021, and he was named an assistant captain for the 2022 team. Read the Q-and-A with Faber in our latest issue of Minnesota Hockey Journal.

Noah Cates, forward, Stillwater - The UMD captain will make a second appearance with Team USA, last notching a goal and two assists with the 2019 World Juniors squad.

Ben Meyers, forward, Delano - Meyers, captain of the Gophers, hopes to bring his playmaking and leadership to the U.S. team.

Aaron Ness, defense, Roseau - One of just a handful of AHL players selected to the team, Ness has played 72 NHL games in his career. He’s been a reliable, puck-moving point producer in the AHL throughout his 12-year pro hockey career.

Mike Hastings, assistant coach, Crookston - Minnesota State University head coach Mike Hastings has been a part of six different USA Hockey coaching staffs, including head honcho of the U.S. National Junior squad, which claimed silver at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championships. Hastings led the Mavericks to the program’s first-ever Frozen Four last year.

Brett Larson, assistant coach, Duluth - St. Cloud State University head coach Brett Larson enters the Team USA bench for the third time, most recently as an assistant with the World Junior Championship team in 2020. Larson led the Huskies to the NCAA Final last spring.

Fun Fact: Larson was a member of the U.S. National Inline Team, which earned gold in 1999 and silver in 1998.

Dr. Michael Stuart, team physician, Rochester - Dr. Stuart, the chief medical and safety officer for USA Hockey, will serve as the team physician of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team for the fourth time.