When Team USA left Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson off its roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago, the snub fueled him.
Over the final 36 games of the season, he scored an NHL-high 25 goals. He carried that dynamic scoring prowess into the World Championship in Europe, where his overtime goal clinched the Americans’ first gold medal at the tournament in 92 years.
Thompson, 28, seemed like a sure bet to represent Team USA at the Milano Cortina Games next month, and this morning, he officially earned a coveted spot on the Olympic roster.
The men’s ice hockey schedule runs from Feb. 11 to 22 in Milan.
Update: Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen has been named to Team Finland’s roster.
Entering tonight’s games, the 20 goals Thompson has scored this season rank 17th in the NHL and fifth among American-born players.
In addition to representing Team USA three times at the World Championship, he has played for his country in other tournaments, including the World Junior Championship.
He joined the US at the 4 Nations Face-Off as an injury replacement at the end of the tournament, although he did not play.
Sabres winger Alex Tuch, who attended a Team USA Olympic orientation camp with Thompson in the summer, did not make the roster.
Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, one of the NHL’s best defensemen, was named to Team Sweden’s roster in June.