Collecting Guide: 2018 United States Men’s Olympic Hockey Team

Collecting Guide: 2018 United States Men’s Olympic Hockey Team – Just because this year’s NHL stars aren’t participating in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games doesn’t mean you can’t collect cards from players on the roster. In fact, several players on the team have numerous cards. Some have never appeared on a trading card.* Most have at least some NHL experience.  Before diving into the specifics of each player, however, here’s a 2018 Olympic hockey primer. It includes information about the format, groupings and schedule.

Format

Three groups of four teams will compete in three preliminary round games (one against every other team in their group) before advancing to a four-round single elimination portion of the tournament. All 12 teams will advance past the group stage, with the winner of each group, along with the highest ranking runner-up, getting a first-round bye in the elimination stage.

Groups

Group A

• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Switzerland
• South Korea

Group B

• Olympic Athletes of Russia
• U.S.A.
• Slovakia
• Slovenia

Group C

• Finland
• Sweden
• Germany
• Norway

Schedule

(All times in EST, Team USA games in bold)

Collecting Guide: 2018 United States Men’s Olympic Hockey Team

#26 Mark Arcobello, F – Current Team: SC Bern (NLA, Swiss National League)

Arcobello played four years of college hockey at Yale University. He was not drafted in his eligibility year of 2010. He instead played the 2010–11 season in minor league hockey with the Stockton Thunder and the Oklahoma City Barons. Both are affiliates of the Edmonton Oilers, which eventually signed signed him to a two-year entry level deal in April, 2011.

Arcobello played his first NHL game on February 5, 2013. He would go on to play for the Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins, Arizona Coyotes and Toronto Maple Leafs.

Mark Arcobello’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2013-14 hockey products from Panini America and Upper Deck. 

#4 Chad Billins D, – Current Team: Linköping HC (Swedish Hockey League)

Billins played four seasons with Ferris State, finishing his senior year in 2011–12 as co-captain. He helped lead  the team to the school’s first-ever Frozen Four appearance. After turning professional in 2012 he signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins of American Hockey League (AHL). Billins appeared in 76 games with the Griffins, scoring 10 goals. He was selected to the AHL All-Star Team in 2013. He appeared 24 playoff games in route to the Griffins’ Calder Cup championship.

His play earned Billins an NHL contract with the Calgary Flames. He made his NHL debut on November 5, 2013 and scored his first point by assisting on a goal in a 5–1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Chad Billins’ NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2013-14 Panini hockey products as well as that year’s Fleer Showcase Hockey from Upper Deck. Billins does not have any certified autographs.

#24 Jonathon Blum, D – Current Team: HC Sochi (KHL)

Blum was selected in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft with the 23rd overall pick by the Nashville Predators. He is a former WHL and CHL champion as well as recipient of each league’s respective award for top defensman. The native of California spent parts of three seasons with the Predators’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals before joining the the big club. Internationally, Blum has represented Team USA on three occasions including two World Junior Championships in 2008 and 2009.

Blum made his NHL debut in 2010 and finished his rookie season with 3 goals and 8 points over 23 NHL games while averaging almost 18-minutes of ice time.

Jonathon Blum’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2010-11 hockey products from Panini and Upper Deck. However, his first cards were made by In The Game and date back to the 2008-09 season.

#17 Chris Bourque, F – Current Team: Hershey Bears (AHL)

Bourque was selected with the 33rd overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Washington Capitals. In 2010, Bourque led the AHL playoffs in scoring with 27 post-season points to win the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as Calder Cup Playoff MVP in helping the Hershey Bears to the Calder Cup championship. He has played in 51 NHL games for the Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins.

Bourque made his NHL debut in November 2007 and played four games before being reassigned to the AHL. He eventually scored his first NHL goal on December 30, 2008, against the Buffalo Sabres.

Chris Bourque’s NHL license rookie cards can be found in 2007-08 Upper Deck hockey products.

#15 Bobby Butler, F – Current Team: Milwaukee Admirals (AHL)

Butler had a standout four-year college career as co-captain for the University of New Hampshire. In 2009-10 he finished second among all NCAA Division I players in goals with 29.  He earned a nomination as a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as the top U.S. college hockey player. Butler went undrafted but signed a two year contract with the Ottawa Senators on March 29, 2010.

He made his NHL debut on April 1st of that year in a 4–3 shootout win against the Carolina Hurricanes. Butler scored his first NHL goal against Nikolai Khabibulin of the Edmonton Oilers on February 12, 2011.

Bobby Butler’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2010-11 hockey products from Panini and Upper Deck. He does not have an Upper Deck Young Guns card.

#12 Brian Gionta, F – Current Team: N/A

Gionta is a 16-year veteran of the NHL having played for the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres. He a was selected with the 82nd overall pick by the New Jersey Devils in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.  Gionta officially joined the Devils during the 2001–02 season and was a member of the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals-winning team. He was a member of the 2006 United States’ men’s team that competed at the Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Gionta finished his NHL career with 1,006 games played, scoring 588 points with 289 goals and 299 assists.

Gionta’s NHL licensed rookie cards date back to products released in the 2001-02 season. He does have several certified autographs available on the secondary market.

#97 Matt Gilroy, D – Current Team: Jokerit (KHL)

Gilroy played his college hockey for Boston University and was the winner of the 2009 Hobey Baker Award. His team also won the NCAA champions. At the time he was just the fifth player in history to win both honors in the same year. Undrafted in 2009, he signed a free-agent deal with the New York Rangers.

He played in 225 NHL games splitting time with the Rangers, Florida Panthers, Ottawa Senators and Tampa Bay Lightning. He scored 48 points including 11 goals.

Gilroy’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2009-10 hockey products.

#42 Chad Kolarik, F – Current Team: Adler Mannheim (Deutsche Eishockey Liga, DEL – Germany)

Kolarik was selected with the 199th overall pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes. After completing his senior year with the Michigan Wolverines in the 2007–08 season, he signed a three-year entry level contract with the Coyotes in April 2008. He was then assigned to their affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage of the AHL, for the Calder Cup playoffs.

He was later traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and made his NHL debut with the team on April 5, 2010 against the St. Louis Blues.

Chad Kolarik’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2010-11 Upper Deck hockey products.

#7 John McCarthy, F – Current Team: San Jose (AHL)

McCarthy played collegiate hockey with Boston University before being selected with  202nd overall pick by the San Jose Sharks in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He made his NHL debut on January 9, 2010 and earned his first NHL point on October 21, 2010 against the Colorado Avalanche.

McCarthy has played in 88 NHL games, scoring 6 points with 3 goals.

John McCarthy’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2010-11 hockey products from Panini and Upper Deck.

#9 Brian O’Neill, F – Current Team: Jokerit (KHL)

O’Neill played his college hockey at Yale University. He was undrafted but signed a deal with the Los Angles Kings in 2012. He had a break out year offensively with the Monarchs of the AHL in 2014-15. He led the league with 58 assists and 80 points in 71 games. As a result, he won the Les Cunningham Award as the AHL’s most valuable player.

O’Neill made his NHL debut on October 10, 2015 against the Washington Capitals. He played 22 games in the NHL for the Devils.

Brian O’Neill’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2015-16 Upper Deck SPx Hockey.

#22 Bobby Sanguinetti, D – Current Team: HC Lugano (NLA, Swiss National League)

Sanguinetti was selected in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. The New York Rangers used the 21st overall pick to grab the defenseman out of Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. He finished second in Ontario Hockey League (OHL) scoring for defensemen in 2006-07 with 23 goals. At the 2009-10 AHL All-Star Game, Sanguinetti won the fastest skater competition, setting a new AHL record.

He made his NHL debut on December 27, 2010 against the Tampa Bay Lightning. He played 45 NHL games.

Bobby Sanguinetti’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2009-10 Upper Deck hockey products.

#19 Jim Slater, F – Current Team: Fribourg-Gotteron (NLA, Swiss National League)

Slater was selected with the 30th overall pick by the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. He played four years of collegiate hockey at Michigan State. He made his NHL debut with the Thrashers for their 2005–06 season opener. Slater played in 584 NHL games tallying 138 points with 67 goals. He also racked up 407 penalty minutes.

Jim Slater’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2005-06 Upper Deck hockey products.

#94 Ryan Stoa, F – Spartak Moskva (KHL)

Stoa was selected with the 34th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche, directly out of high school.  He was then selected to the U.S. Development Program playing in the Under 17 and 18 National Team from 2003–2005. He played collegiate hockey and was an All-American at the University of Minnesota and was a teammate of Phil Kessel.

Stoa made his NHL debut with the Avalanche against the Calgary Flames on December 13, 2009. He played a total of 40 NHL games.

Ryan Stoa’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2009-10 Upper Deck hockey products.

#5 Noah Welch, D – Växjö Lakers (SHL)

Welch was selected with the 54th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to that he was the captain of the Harvard University hockey team, graduating in 2005. Welch made his NHL debut late in the 2005–2006 season for the Penguins scoring first NHL point with an assist in a win over the New York Islanders. He played in a total of 75 NHL games.

Noah Welch’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2006-07 Upper Deck hockey products.

#21 James Wisniewski, D – Current Team: EC Kassel Huskies (Deutsche Eishockey Liga, DEL – Germany)

James Wisniewski is a former Defenseman of the Year award-winner for the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). He was selected with the 156th overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks. He was an early call-up in the 2006–07 season after having made his NHL debut the year prior. He would go on to split time between six NHL teams totaling 552 career games. He scored 274 points with 53 goals.

James Wisniewski’s NHL licensed rookie cards can be found in 2005-06 Upper Deck hockey products.

* Will Borgen, Ryan Donato, Jordan Greenway, Ryan Gunderson, David Leggio, Broc Little, Brandon Maxwell, Garrett Roe, Troy Terry and Ryan Zapolski do not have any NHL licensed trading cards.

Collecting Guide: 2018 United States Men’s Olympic Hockey Team

• Author
• Recent Posts

Rob Bertrand

Director of Marketing at GTS Distribution - Sports & Entertainment

Rob has been involved in developing hobby related, multi-media content for over 18-years. An avid collector himself, he is the former co-host of Cardboard Connection Radio. Rob got his start on the business side of the hobby as the lead content developer for Card Corner Club before the site’s merger with Cardboard Connection. He also has an extensive article archive on the collectibles website WorthPoint as one of their sports card and memorabilia experts. In addition to hobby related news coverage, he has also been a contributor for Sportsology.net.

Latest posts by Rob Bertrand (see all)

• Reflecting on the National: #TheHobby is Thriving . . . and it Always Will Be - August 10, 2023
• Collecting 101 – Card Company Mergers, Acquisitions, Licensing - October 10, 2022
• Breaking Barriers: Top Female Athletes Cashing In - January 17, 2022