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GRAND FORKS — Brock Nelson is finally headed to his first Olympic Games.
The U.S. has never won gold without someone from his family on the roster.
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Nelson’s grandfather, Billy Christian, and great uncle, Roger Christian, were on the 1960 Olympic Team that won gold in Squaw Valley, Calif. His uncle, Dave Christian, was on the 1980 Miracle on Ice team that won gold in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Now, it’s Nelson’s turn.
The NHL did not send its players to the 2018 and 2022 Winter Games, which came during the prime of Nelson’s career, but at age 34, he’s still showing he’s one of the NHL’s elite with the Colorado Avalanche.
Nelson has 16 goals and 30 points in 39 games for the Avalanche, who are the NHL’s best team.
Nelson isn’t the only former UND player headed to the Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Former UND defenseman Jake Sanderson also made Team USA’s roster.
This will be Sanderson’s second Olympic Games. He played in the 2022 Winter Olympics when he was a sophomore at UND.
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Sanderson, 23, has eight goals and 28 points in 39 games for the Ottawa Senators.
The Olympics are scheduled from Feb. 11-22 in Milan. The Americans open with Latvia on Feb. 12.
The Americans will carry 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders.
The forwards are Nelson, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jack Eichel, Jake Guentzel, Jack Hughes, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, Auston Matthews, J.T. Miller, Tage Thompson, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk and Vincent Trochek.
The defensemen are Sanderson, Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Quinn Hughes, Seth Jones, Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski.
The goalies are Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Nelson has represented Team USA at other levels.
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He won a bronze medal with the World Junior team in 2011. He has represented the Americans at the Men’s World Championship in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2024, winning a bronze in 2015.
Nelson also played for the Americans in the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, helping them to a second-place finish.
Now, Nelson will get a shot at international hockey’s biggest stage — a place Warroad players have thrived.
The 1998 U.S. women are the only American team to win an Olympic gold without a Warroad player on the roster.
Gigi Marvin was on the 2018 team that won gold in South Korea.
T.J. Oshie also starred at the Olympics in 2014. Henry Boucha played in the 1972 Winter Games.
Sanderson’s 2022 Olympic experience wasn’t the best.
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He tested positive for COVID-19 on his way to Beijing, China, and had to quarantine in Los Angeles before heading abroad. Once he got over there, he suited up in a game, registered an assist, but suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out for the rest of the Games.
“We’re excited about our team and congratulate everyone named today,” U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said. “It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong. There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Bismarck’s Britta Curl-Salemme, who played college hockey at Wisconsin, will play in her first Olympic Games.
Curl-Salemme was set to be a late addition to the roster in 2022, but tested positive for COVID-19 en route to Beijing and was unable to join the Americans.
Curl-Salemme helped the Minnesota Frost win the Walter Cup as PWHL champions last season. She has 10 points in eight games for the Frost this season.
Curl-Salemma has represented the Americans in four Women’s World Championships — 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 — winning gold in 2023 and 2025. She also represented Team USA at the Under-18 Championships in 2018.
The American forwards are Curl-Salemme Hanna Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Joy Dunne, Taylor Heise, Tessa Janecke, Hilary Knight, Abbey Murphy, Kelly Pannek, Haley Scamurra, Kirsten Simms and Grace Zumwinkle.
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The defenders are Cayla Barnes, Laila Edwards, Rory Guilday, Caroline Harvey, Megan Keller, Lee Stecklein and Haley Winn.
The goaltenders are Aerin Frankel, Ava McNaughton and Gwyneth Philips.
Feb. 12: vs. Latvia
Feb. 14: vs. Denmark
Feb. 15: vs. Germany
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