USA Hockey has announced their 2018 Olympic roster that will fly out to Pyeongchang to represent one of two hockey's powerhouses in an exciting tournament.
Although no NHL players included, the USA has assembled the best roster possible and will be led by head coach Tony Granato and will be captained by former NHL'r Brian Gionta.
Here is the list of players that have made the cut:
2018 Olympic Winter Games Team USA Men's roster. pic.twitter.com/20MU9eiYUu
— Aivis Kalniņš (@A_Kalnins) January 1, 2018
Team USA has had a chance to play at the Deuchland cup, as their only tournament to set things up but the coaching staff has been communicating on daily basis to determine the best options to win the winter Olympics.
California's own Jonathan Blum that plays in the KHL and has recently joined HK Sochi chimed in on his opportunity to represent his home country and what should we all expect.
''It's a tremendous feeling to represent team USA at the Olympics. Never would I have imagined playing at the highest level of hockey representing my country. And personally, for me it's great because I am not coming from a hockey hotbed like Michigan or Minnesota, I was born and raised in sunny Southern California. So I hope this gives hockey players in California hope that one day they can represent their country at the highest honor.''
Has Jon talked much with Tony Granato and what should we expect? ''I haven't had many conversations with Tony Granato but I have spoken to Chris Chelios a few times. I think you should expect a fast skilled team. There's a lot of great leadership on the team with Gionta being our captain.''
The most important thing that I wanted to hear from Blum was - Why should fans care? NHL isn't going, what do you have to say to draw them in?
''Obviously, it sucks that the NHL players aren't going. As a player myself it's always nice to see the best of the best playing at the highest level. But for me and 24 other guys, it's a chance for the fans of hockey in the United States to see our stories and support the players who were selected. We are still American and bleed for the red white and blue and hope to have the same support rooting us on for a chance to win Olympic gold that the NHL players would of had''