Bombay Durpun - USA Olympic squad of NHL stars heavy on Four Nations talent

Last February's NHL-backed Face-Off event included three fights in the first nine seconds between border rivals United States and Canada, tensions heightened by political matters including President Donald Trump's talk of making Canada the 51st American state.

Canada defeated the US squad in the Face-Off final.

Brothers Matthew Tkachuk of Florida and Brady Tkachuk of Ottawa, who dropped gloves in the first two on-ice Four Nations fights last year against Canada, and fellow forward J.T. Miller, involved in the third, were named to the US lineup for Milan.

Other US front-liners include Toronto's Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel of Vegas, New Jersey's Jack Hughes, Tampa Bay's Jake Guentzel, Detroit's Dylan Larkin, Winnipeg's Kyle Connor, Colorado's Brock Nelson, Minnesota's Matt Boldy and Miller's New York Rangers teammate Vincent Trocheck.

"We have a really good group of young, hungry Americans that haven't played in the Olympics before," Hughes said. "Guys are pumped up and we should be really excited."

Buffalo's Tage Thompson, Utah's Clayton Keller and Florida defenseman Seth Jones were not on the US Four Nations squad but did make the US Olympic lineup, as did Vancouver defenseman Quinn Hughes, who was hurt during last year's event.

American defensemen heading to Italy also include Noah Hanifan of Vegas, Boston's Charlie McAvoy, Minnesota's Brock Faber, Ottawa's Jake Sanderson, Carolina's Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski of Columbus.

All three goaltenders from the Four Nations Face-Off -- Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck, Boston's Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger of Dallas -- will return for the US quest for its first gold medal since the 1980 Lake Placid Olympic "Miracle on Ice."

Sanderson and Faber competed for the US squad in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and are the only US players with Games experience as active NHL talent returns to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.

"We're excited about our team," US Olympic men's general manager Bill Guerin said. "It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster."

The Americans will open Olympic competition on February 12 against Latvia.

R.Altobelli--BD