US Para ice hockey team for 2018-19 named
Paralympic Winter Games champions return 26 Jul 2018“Our player pool is deeper than it has ever been, and that's a credit to the volunteers and programmes across the country.”
The USA have announced their squad for the upcoming Para ice hockey season, including twelve players who won Paralympic gold at PyeongChang 2018.
"Coming off a Paralympic win last season, we were impressed by the level of competition shown at this year's tryouts and we're thrilled about the players chosen to represent the United States this coming season," said the team’s general manager Dan Brennan. “Our player pool is deeper than it has ever been, and that's a credit to the volunteers and programmes across the country.”
Highlighting the returnees are forwards Declan Farmer and Brody Roybal; defenseman Josh Pauls; and goaltender Steve Cash.
Roybal was named Most Valuable Player at PyeongChang 2018 after accumulating a tournament-leading 17 points in five games. Farmer tied the US and Paralympic records for most goals (11) in a single Games, including the game-tying and winning goals in the final.
Long-time team members Pauls and Cash not only lead the US to Paralympic gold, but also the 2017 World Sled Hockey Challenge and 2018 Turin Para Ice Hockey International Tournament titles.
Other notable returnees include forwards Kevin McKee and Rico Roman, and goaltender Jen Lee, all who were part of USA's winning efforts at the last two Paralympics.
Forward Josh Sweeney and defenseman Chris Douglas – part of the 2014-15 roster that went undefeated season en route to winning the 2015 Worlds title – both return for their second stints with the team.
Newcomers from the development team include defenseman Colin Gooley, and forwards Josh Hargis and Kyle Zych.
The complete US Para ice hockey national team can be found on USA Hockey’s website.