Buffalo Sabres wingers Tage Thompson and Alex Tuch are two of the 44 players USA Hockey has invited to its Olympic Orientation Camp for the upcoming Milano Cortina Games.
The camp will take place August 26 and 27 in Plymouth, Mich. The Olympics start Feb. 5.
South Buffalo native Patrick Kane and former Sabres captain Jack Eichel, who in June was named to a preliminary Olympic roster, are also among the invites USA Hockey released Tuesday.
Thompson, who has scored 158 goals over the last four years, including 44 last season, figured to be in Team USA’s plans.
On May 25 in Stockholm, Sweden, he scored in overtime against Team Switzerland, securing the Americans’ first gold medal at the World Championship since 1933. The goal completed a hat trick and was his sixth in 10 games at the tournament.
Thompson, 27, also won the bronze medal at the World Championship in 2018 and 2021 and the goal medal at the 2017 World Junior Championship.
In February, Team USA invited him to the 4 Nations Face-Off as a late injury replacement.
Tuch, 29, has established himself as one of the NHL’s best all-around forwards. In addition to scoring 36 goals and 67 points last season, he blocked 113 shots, the highest total recorded by a forward since the league began tracking the stat in 2005-06.
Since the beginning of 2023-24, the 191 blocks and 131 takeaways he has registered – he utilizes his long reach and hunts pucks perhaps better than anyone – lead all forwards in the league.
The Baldwinsville native last played for Team USA at the 2023 World Championship. He also represented his country in the 2015 World Junior Championship.
One Sabres player has already earned a spot in the Olympics. In June, captain Rasmus Dahlin was named to Team Sweden’s preliminary roster.
