MONTREAL — USA Hockey has assembled the greatest collection of talent in the country’s history to play in the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, and it includes a kid from the Colorado Thunderbirds.
Jaccob Slavin will become the first Colorado born-and-trained player to compete in a best-on-best international hockey tournament for the U.S. men’s senior team Thursday night when the Americans face Finland at Bell Centre.
“It’s pretty cool,” Slavin said. “You watched the ‘Miracle’ movie and saw them down at the Broadmoor. Just understanding that as a kid, it was so exciting to watch that movie and now being able to put on that jersey that you saw in that movie so many times is something pretty special.
“Being from Colorado, it’s a great state. Lots of hockey. It’s fun.”
The old Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs holds a special place in American hockey history. That’s where the 1980 United States Olympic team was forged. Herb Brooks and his staff held camp there and eventually selected the team that claimed this country’s most famous hockey triumph.
There have been lots of players with Colorado connections to play for the U.S. on the international stage. The most recent native son was Troy Terry of Highlands Ranch, who played for the U.S. team at the 2018 Winter Olympics. That was the first of two straight Olympics that did not feature NHL players, a streak that will end next year in Milan.
Three guys who were born in Colorado have represented the U.S. at a best-on-best tournament. Joe Noris and Mike Eaves both played in a Canada Cup, while Ben Bishop played in the 2016 World Cup. All three of those guys were born in the Centennial State, but moved elsewhere.
Slavin was born in Erie, grew up in the Thunderbirds system and went to Colorado College. He’s evolved into a key player for the Carolina Hurricanes and one of the top defensive defensemen in the sport.
He’s expected to play next to Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner, on the top pairing for the U.S.
“I know him really well as a player,” Fox said. “I’ve played against him more than enough times. Just a super nice guy. Everyone knows he’s a pretty good character guy. He’s not easy to play against. His stick, his skating ability are second to none. I think it is just learning each other’s tendencies and where people are going to be. But I definitely know that I’ve got a nice safety valve next to me back there.”
For years, Canada has run this sport. The Canadians have not lost a best-on-best game since the preliminary round of the 2010 Winter Olympics — an astounding 25 straight victories and three consecutive tournament wins.
But the Americans, led by University of Denver coach David Carle, have won the world junior championship in back-to-back years for the first time. And now the U.S. team enters this tournament as co-favorites, with the deepest roster the country has ever had.
“I’m thankful to be here, thankful for the opportunity,” Slavin said. “God’s given me a lot of amazing talents, to be able to play the game. I don’t think when I started my career, that it would be 10 years long already. It’s gone by quick. It’s been something that you go at each day with a smile on your face knowing that it’s another gift. This tournament is the same way.”
The Americans had a team dinner Monday night in Montreal. USA Hockey invited Mike Eruizone and Rob McClanahan from the 1980 team, plus Mike Modano from the 1996 World Cup-winning squad. U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said it was important to show the current team a link to the guys who paved the way for them.
Slavin, who played at the new Broadmoor World Arena during his two years at Colorado College, felt a connection to the guys from the “Miracle on Ice” team.
“I think the biggest thing (they told us) is just the opportunity to represent your country and to do it with the group of guys that we have here is something special,” Slavin said. “They were just saying take it all in, soak it all up and have fun with it. Because you don’t know if you’ll ever get that chance again.”
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