Hockey The United States selected 15 university players for its men’s Olympic team, with experience represented by Jokerien Brian O’Neill

Over half of the players in the U.S. men’s hockey team going to the Beijing Olympics are at least officially amateurs.

Team leader, former NHL goalkeeper John Vanbiesbrouck According to Reuters news agency on Thursday, as many as 15 players from the country ‘s university leagues have been named to the Olympic team.

When NHL players are not involved in the Olympics, the United States had to bow to this solution. The remaining ten players on the team will come from the European leagues as well as the lower leagues in North America.

“All assumed for a long time that NHL players would leave for the Olympics. Now we have to live with new realities. This is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to join. Some were even willing to swim there to get to play on the team, ”Vanbiesbrouck said at a media conference.

Seven players on the team have at least one NHL experience. They now include a sixth-season Joker player Brian O’Neill, who played for the U.S. team already at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.