USA Hockey announced the first three players named to the 2022 Olympic team on Thursday morning, and among the three were two Blackhawks, Patrick Kane and Seth Jones.
THE FIRST THREE 🇺🇸@88PKane@AM34@seth_jones3#TeamUSA | #WinterOlympics
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) October 7, 2021
The Olympic stage is nothing new for Kane, as it will be his third time representing the United States on the world’s biggest sports stage, donning the red, white and blue in both 2010 and 2014. Additionally, Kane has represented his country in nearly every major international setting, including the Under-17 World Junior Championships, Under-18 World Junior Championships, the World Junior Championships, the World Championships and the World Cup. Kane served as his team’s captain at both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships. Kane has tallied 82 points (29 goals, 53 assists) in 58 games played at the international events listed above throughout his career.
Conversely, 2022 will be the first Olympic experience for Jones, who was a rookie the last time NHL players were allowed to compete in the Olympics. However, like Kane, Jones is in no way a stranger to the international stage, including competing at the Under-17 World Junior Championships, Under-18 World Junior Championships, the World Junior Championships and the World Championships. In 43 contests in the events listed, Jones has amassed 35 points (eight goals, 27 assists). Jones also competed in the 2016 World Cup, but was representing the North American Under-23 team.
Toronto’s Auston Matthews rounded out the trio of provisional players named to the squad. The rest of the 25-man roster will be announced in January, and fellow Blackhawks teammate Alex DeBrincat is expected to join Kane and Jones on the final roster.