BOSTON — His future a clean canvas, a 17-year-old Jack Eichel remembers the objectives. 4 of them, to be actual.
Whereas turning heads with the USA Hockey Nationwide Crew Improvement Program within the 2013-14 season, the North Chelmsford native was on the cusp of fulfilling his lifelong goals.
After starring within the crimson, white and blue that season — competing within the World Junior Championship because the staff’s youngest participant and main america to a gold medal on the World Underneath-18 Championship tied for the staff’s main scorer — Eichel would go on to dazzle at Boston College in 2014-15, seize the Hobey Baker Award and listen to his title referred to as by the Buffalo Sabres because the No. 2 decide within the 2015 Nationwide Hockey League Draft.
Eichel is now a Stanley Cup champion within the prime of his profession main the Vegas Golden Knights in scoring (21-47-68) whereas on tempo for career-high numbers. He’s reached the top of the NHL. The Knights are once more championship hopefuls.
However maybe one field remained unchecked. Eichel can now add Olympian to his crowded resume of accolades, and it’s a definite reminiscence from between his World Championship appearances of the 2014 Winter Olympics that’s as related as ever.
“The factor that stands proud is the shootout between Russia and the U.S. when T.J. Oshie went a bunch of occasions and saved scoring,” Eichel stated throughout a latest morning skate at TD Backyard previous to the Olympics. “I believe that was most likely the factor that I bear in mind probably the most.”
Oshie turned a family title along with his masterful 4-for-6 efficiency in Crew USA’s memorable preliminary-round shootout victory in opposition to Russia. It was the form of displaying that would go away a long-lasting impression on Eichel and lots of different youth hockey gamers within the nation who aspired to take the ice on that stage.
And within the subsequent alternative NHL gamers need to do exactly that, Eichel was on the heart of Crew USA’s efforts in Italy when the staff dropped the puck in opposition to Latvia on Thursday within the first of three preliminary spherical matchups. Centering Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Eichel picked up a pair of assists in a 5-1 victory.
NHL gamers hadn’t competed within the Olympics since 2014, lacking the competitors in 2018 and 2022.
“Not having the chance to have achieved that to this point in my profession, and now having the possibility to do it, yeah, it’s undoubtedly one thing that stands proud, and I’m simply actually excited for it,” Eichel stated.
Eichel was one of many first six gamers named to Crew USA’s roster in June, becoming a member of Auston Matthews, the Tkachuk brothers, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy, who all have been members of Crew USA finally February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.
Eichel isn’t the one U.S. participant with Lowell-area roots. Winnipeg Jets star Connor Hellebuyck, who starred at UMass Lowell for 2 seasons, is considered one of three goaltenders on the roster. Hellebuyck turned apart 17 pictures in opposition to Latvia.
Of the 25 gamers rostered on Crew USA, 21 of them competed within the 4 Nations Face-Off. Crew USA fell to Canada, 3-2, in an exhilarating time beyond regulation sport within the finals of the match in Boston at TD Backyard. For Eichel and lots of of his teammates, the ultra-intense match was a de facto warm-up for this winter’s Olympics.
“I believe for lots of us on this technology that haven’t performed that best-on-best worldwide, it was a possibility to try this and get just a little expertise and see what it’s going to be like as a result of I assume it would most likely be comparable,” Eichel stated.
The sleek-skating Eichel emerged as considered one of Crew USA’s most dependable gamers within the occasion, showcasing his immense playmaking potential whereas additionally proving himself as an elite two-way participant. He picked up 4 assists in 4 video games.
Eichel, who grew up skating on space rinks and ponds, stated he all the time imagined himself enjoying within the Olympics.
“With among the manner that issues have went the final what number of ever years and the NHL gamers not having the ability to go, it’s undoubtedly one thing you have got in your thoughts whenever you’re coaching and also you’re working the previous few years and pondering to your self this might be a risk and the way a lot it will imply to you to be part of it,” Eichel stated. “Actually, actually honored and really feel very grateful to have the possibility to put on the crimson, white and blue.”
