It was only two nights ago that Winnipeg Jets prospect and 2018 third-round draft choice, Nathan Smith, was selected to the United States Olympic hockey team for the 2022 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.
The United States has decided to go in a different direction for their roster this year than their roster for the 2018 Olympics in South Korea where they had an abysmal seventh-place finish out of twelve competing teams.
During the 2018 games, the U.S.A. roster was primarily named of players who were playing professionally in Europe and they had a handful of NCAA players on their roster. This year, the U.S.A. took a different approach as they have 15 players who compete at the NCAA level, and their roster is rounded out with a few AHL players and a handful of players who are playing in Europe.
Winnipeg Jets former draft pick, Nathan Smith, selection to U.S.A.’s roster is well deserved
For those who do not know much about Smith, he currently attends and plays for the Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks in the NCAA. The Mavericks currently are ranked as the number one team in the NCAA and they have a 20-4 record.
Minnesota State is unlike many NCAA teams who are ranked. They only have two players that have been drafted to the NHL. Those players are Smith (Winnipeg Jets) and Benton Maass (Washington Capitals).
Smith has played outstanding this season and is one of the reasons why the Mavericks are atop the rankings. Smith leads his team in goals (13), assists (20), and points (33) in 22 games played. He also has three game winning goals and a plus-21 plus/minus. Smith also currently leads the NCAA in points scored.
Smith is currently at an individual collegiate career-high in goals, assists, points, and plus/minus and his play has helped him in being named as a nominee for the Hobey Baker Memorial Trophy, which is awarded to the best NCAA player.
When you take this all into account, it should not come as a surprise to anyone that Smith was named to the U.S.A.’s Olympic hockey team. He is currently performing at an elite pace and can be considered one of the best college players in the country.
It should be fun to watch Smith during the preliminary round of the tournament as the United States faces tough games against, their rival, Canada and, 2018 silver medalists, Germany, and a game against underdog and host-nation, China. The preliminary round games begin on February 9 and the United States’ first game is on February 10 against China.