U.S. Men's Hockey Ousted From 2022 Olympics

The U.S. men's hockey team lost only one game at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China. Unfortunately, that loss came in an elimination game.

Slovakia notched the tying goal in the final minute of regulation, and after a scoreless 10-minute overtime tallied the only goal of the ensuing shootout to eliminate the Americans by a 3-2 count last night. Slovakia moves on to the semifinal round, while the U.S. has still not medaled in Olympic men's hockey since 2010, when it earned silver in Vancouver.

Nick Abruzzese (Harvard) and Sam Hentges (St. Cloud State) staked Team USA to a 2-1 lead after two periods against Slovakia, but it wasn't enough as the Americans went 0-for-5 on the power play, including a two-man advantage. The U.S then went 0-for-5 in shootout attempts to seal its fate. 

Strauss Mann (Michigan) finished with 34 saves in net for the U.S., which had won all three of its games in round-robin pool play to advance to the quarterfinals.

The U.S women will play rival Canada for the gold medal on Wednesday night (11 p.m. ET, NBC TV, TSN Direct).

U.S. Tops Canada in Olympic Men's Hockey

The United States now sits alone atop Group A play in men's ice hockey at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. The Americans defeated rival Canada by a 4-2 count on Friday night in Beijing, China.

After falling behind by a goal in the first two minutes of play, the U.S rebounded to take a 3-1 lead by early in the second period, before adding an insurance goal in the final frame. Andy Miele (Miami), Ben Meyers (Minnesota), Brendan Brisson (Michigan) and Kenny Agostino (Yale) scored for the U.S., with Miele also assisting on Agostino's goal. Strauss Mann (Michigan) made 35 saves in his Team USA debut.

Mat Robinson (Alaska Anchorage) and Corban Knight (North Dakota) scored goals for Canada, the latter shorthanded. Canada outshot the U.S. on the night, 37-27, and also won nearly 72 percent of all face-offs taken.

Team USA (2-0-0-0) will now face Germany in its final round-robin game, while Canada (1-1-0-0) will take on host China, with both contests slated for Sunday.

Michigan's Mann Turns Pro

The University of Michigan is on the lookout for a new starting goaltender, as Strauss Mann has decided to pass up his senior season to turn professional.

Mann, 22, an undrafted netminder from Greenwich, Conn., played in 77 games over the last three years at Michigan, in which he finished with a 35-30-9 record to go with a 2.14 goals-against average and 11 shutouts.

As a sophomore in 2019-20, the six-foot-tall Mann went 18-13-4 with a 1.85 GAA and six shutouts to earn Big Ten Best Goaltender and Big Ten First All-Star Team accolades, before the 2019-20 campaign was canceled by COVID-19. As a team captain this season, he helped the Wolverines to the NCAA tournament by winning 11 games, before Michigan was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to the coronavirus.

Prior to arriving at Ann Arbor in the fall of 2018, Mann played one year for Fargo (USHL), where he went 22-8-3 with five shutouts and also backstopped the Force to the Clark Cup championship.

Swayman Finalist for Both Hobey Baker and Richter Awards

The Hobey Hat Trick and the five finalists for the Mike Richter Award have both been announced—and Jeremy Swayman (Maine) is on both lists.

Swayman went 18-10-5 this past season with a 2.07 goals-against average and .939 save percentage, along with three shutouts. He is vying to become the first goaltender to win the Hobey Baker Memorial Award, given to the top player in NCAA Division I men's hockey, since Ryan Miller (Michigan State) in 2001. The two other finalists this year are forward Jordan Kawaguchi (North Dakota) and defenseman Scott Perunovich (Minnesota-Duluth). The winner will be announced April 11.

The four other finalists for the Mike Richter Award include Matthew Galajda (Cornell), Spencer Knight (Boston College), Strauss Mann (Michigan) and Dryden McKay (Minnesota State). The winner will be announced April 10.