Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, Seth Jones made first selections for the 2022 U.S. men’s hockey team

Chicago Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane and defender Seth Jones and Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews were the first three players to be named to the U.S. men’s hockey team on Thursday.

“It’s no secret that we’re excited about our team’s prospects for the 2022 Games,” said Stan Bowman, U.S. hockey general manager who also leads the Blackhawks. “Patrick, Auston and Seth reflect the high level of talent that makes up our final list as we strive to bring gold back home to the United States.”

The United States has not won Olympic gold since 1980. NHL players began participating in the 1998 Olympics and went five times before the league overtook the Pyeongchang in 2018.

The league, the players ’association and the International Hockey Federation asked each country to select three players before the start of the NHL season. A list of 55 players from each country is due to be released in mid-October, and the final line-ups — 3 goalkeepers and 22 skaters — will be announced in January.

Canada, which won gold in 2010 and 2014, announced Edmonton-dominated NHL MVP Connor McDavid, Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby and Vegas defender Alex Pietrangelo with their first three players.

“We’ve caught it pretty well,” Canadian CEO Doug Armstrong told The Associated Press this week. “We have a few improvements that we need to make here before it has to go in, but I would say we’re one of the countries you want it to not exist because your remaining friends have a great October, November, December, but so be it. That’s the way it has to be. Just because of the depth of the Canadian Hockey program, you want to try to make the list as accurate as possible. “

Sweden chose Stanley Cup winner Victor Hedman, Colorado captain Gabriel Landeskog and New York Rangers midfielder Mika Zibanejad. Finland started with Florida captain Aleksander Barkov, Carolina striker Sebastian Aho and Colorado winger Mikko Rantanen. The Czech Republic selected Boston winger David Pastrnak, Tampa Bay winger Ondrej Palat and Columbus winger Jakub Voracek.

The NHL and NHL players have until January to withdraw from the Olympics if the coronavirus pandemic worsens. The tournament starts on February 9 in Beijing.