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Hingham's Matt Beniers, Norwell's Drew Commesso headline US Olympic men's hockey roster

greg dudek, the patriot ledger
·4 min read

When the United States men's hockey team takes the ice for the upcoming 2022 Olympic Winter Games, there will be plenty of former local talent on display.

Hingham's Matt Beniers, who was chosen second overall in the 2021 NHL draft by the expansion Seattle Kraken, and Drew Commesso, of Norwell, were both named to the team's final 26-man roster Thursday. The Olympics are slated to take place from Feb. 3-20 in Beijing, China.

Former Boston University standout David Warsofsky, of Marshfield, also is on the roster. Warsofsky, 31, plays professionally in Germany. He is one of seven Team USA players with NHL experience, having logged 55 career games, including 10 with the Bruins over the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

Beniers and Commesso were two of 15 players selected to the team who are currently playing NCAA hockey. USA Hockey is using a mix of college athletes along with pros from the AHL and European leagues since NHL players aren't permitted to participate in this year's Olympics due to the massive disruption the COVID-19 pandemic had on the league's schedule.

At 19, Beniers is the youngest player on the youngest U.S. squad since 1994. Beniers, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way center, is currently enjoying a sensational sophomore campaign at Michigan, where he has tallied 12 goals and 14 assists in 22 games.

Beniers played one year of high school hockey at Milton Academy before joining USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.

Commesso, a highly touted goalie prospect who was selected No. 46 overall in the second round of the 2020 NHL draft by Chicago, is one of three netminders on the U.S. roster. He's joined by 34-year-old AHL veteran Pat Nagle, the oldest player on the roster, and Greenwich, Connecticut, product Strauss Mann, who leads the Swedish Hockey League in goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.930).

Norwell's Drew Commesso was selected with the No. 46 overall pick in the NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.
Norwell's Drew Commesso was selected with the No. 46 overall pick in the NHL Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday.

Commesso, who played two high school seasons at St. Sebastian's in Needham, also played in the USA Hockey's National Team Development program before starting his collegiate career at Boston University. Now in his sophomore season with the Terriers, the 6-foot-2, 180-pounder is 8-7-3 with a 2.67 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

This isn't the first time Beniers or Commesso have represented USA Hockey on an international stage. Beniers played on the gold medal-winning 2021 U.S. National Junior Team while Commesso was the primary goaltender for the U.S. U-18 Team and compiled a 2.05 goals-against average, the second-best in U-18 history.

Warsofsky was captain of the 2007-08 Under-18 U.S. team that won a bronze medal at the 2008 IIHF World U18 Championships in Russia. He had a team-high seven assists in that tournament. Warsofsky also played on the 2010 U.S. team that won gold at the World Juniors in Saskatchewan, Canada.

“We’re excited about the roster we’ve put together,” Team USA general manager John Vanbiesbrouck said in a statement. “The Olympics are the biggest stage in sports and it was fun to hear the enthusiasm our players have to represent their country. We’re fortunate to have a deep talent pool ... and with the mix of players who are part of our team, we’re looking forward to competing for a gold medal in Beijing.”

Hingham's Matt Beniers, who played for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is set to begin his college career at the University of Michigan.
Hingham's Matt Beniers, who played for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, is set to begin his college career at the University of Michigan.

Joining Beniers and Commesso on Team USA are Harvard stars Nick Abruzzese, a junior center, and Sean Farrell, a sophomore forward from Hopkinton. North Billerica's Marc Laughlin, who has 14 goals and 6 assists during his senior season at Boston College this winter, also made the team along with BC junior defenseman Drew Helleson.

Former Boston Bruins defenseman Steve Kampfer also will suit up for Team USA. Kampfer spent 11 seasons playing in the NHL, including his last three years with the Bruins as part of a second stint with the organization. Kampfer recorded 15 goals and 24 assists in 231 regular-season games in the NHL. Providence Bruins defenseman Aaron Ness, a longtime AHL player in his first season with the Baby Bruins, was also named to the team.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Hingham's Beniers, Norwell's Commesso named to USA Hockey Olympic Team