Five Terriers Named to U.S. Olympic Men's Hockey Team
January 2, 2026 | Men's Ice Hockey
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Five former Boston University men's ice hockey standouts have been named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, USA Hockey announced on Friday morning.
Jack Eichel, Charlie McAvoy and Brady Tkachuk were among the first six players named to the roster back in June and will now be joined on the squad by Clayton Keller and Jake Oettinger. This is the first time since 2002 that five Terriers will skate for Team USA at the Olympics. The six Terrier Olympians (including Canadian Macklin Celebrini) is the second most in program history behind the seven Terriers selected to Team USA in 1992.
All five players will be first-time Olympians. Eichel, McAvoy, Oettinger and Tkachuk represented the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February and all five Terriers have competed for Team USA at World Juniors, Men's Worlds and U18 Worlds during their storied careers, combining for 18 medals across the three tournaments.
Along with to the five players who will compete on the ice for Team USA, the Terriers will be well-represented behind the bench and behind the scenes. Current New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan will hold that position for the United States in Milan and will be assisted by Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes and Rangers assistant coach David Quinn. In addition, Chris Drury and Chris Kelleher are part of the the Team USA's management staff. No other school has more players or staff members on Team USA than BU.
Eichel, the 2015 Hobey Baker Award winner who is currently an alternate captain with the Vegas Golden Knights, has totaled 41 points (12g, 29a) in 31 games this season and has recorded 649 points (251g, 398a) in 647 career games. He led the Stanley Cup Playoffs with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) in 22 games in 2023 to help Vegas win its first championship. The 29-year-old center had four assists in four games for the United States at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Keller, the 2017 National Rookie of the Year and captain of the Utah Mammoth, has recorded 36 points (13g, 23a) in 41 games this season and has notched 544 points (209g, 335a) in 642 career contests. This past May, Keller captained the United States to its first gold medal at a men's world championship since 1933; he has also won gold at an Under-18 World Championship (2015) and at World Juniors (2017). The 27-year-old winger totaled 10 points on three goals and seven assists at that tournament.
McAvoy, a 2017 First Team All-American and alternate captain of the Boston Bruins, has totaled 20 points (1g, 19a) in 29 games this season and has 320 points (61 goals, 259 assists) in 533 games. He was a plus-1 in two games at the 4 Nations Face-Off before missing the final two games due to injury. The 28-year-old defenseman has skated in the Stanley Cup Playoffs eight times, totaling 48 points and helping Boston reach the 2019 Cup Final.
Oettinger, the 2018 Hockey East Tournament MVP who is currently the starting goaltender for the Dallas Stars, owns a .907 save percentage and a 2.57 goals-against average in 26 starts this season. His 16 wins is tied for fourth in the NHL this season, just one behind the trio of leaders. The 27-year-old Oettinger has won 165 of his 277 career appearances, posting a 2.53 GAA and a .912 save percentage, and has backstopped the Stars to four straight playoff appearances.
Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators, has notched six goals and 12 assists for 18 points in just 19 games this year. The 26-year-old winger has totaled 422 points (197g, 225a) in 531 career games. Tkachuk tallied three goals in four games at the 4 Nations Face-Off and had four goals in six games during his playoff debut last season as he helped lead Ottawa back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.
