USA start bid for Ice Hockey gold at Gangwon 2024 with Parker Trottier, Grandson of NHL legend Bryan Trottier, on the team

26 January 2024 - The Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) ice hockey tournament begins on Saturday (Jan 27). Expectations are always high for the United States and this time they will take to the ice with a legendary name in their ranks.

Parker Trottier is the grandson of NHL legend Bryan Trottier Sr, who won six Stanley Cup championships in a glorious playing career, and is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

15-year-old Parker, who turns 16 two weeks after the end of Gangwon 2024, is one of four players from the renowned Shattuck St. Mary's youth hockey program in Minnesota on the American team at the YOG.

His selection came after a strong season in which he registered 45 goals and 46 assists in just 59 games, and the young forward’s form continued into this season.

Parker will wear the number 16 shirt unlike his grandfather’s number 19, which was retired by the New York Islanders after Bryan won four straight Stanley Cups with them. Bryan also won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was a coach at Colorado Avalanche for their 1981 triumph in the competition.

The men’s and women’s 6-team ice hockey tournaments both begin at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on Saturday, with the finals on Wednesday. (January 31).

Team USA’s only gold medal in the three previous Winter Youth Olympic Games was at Lillehammer 2016, but they are counting on their young talent and a star name to top the podium again at Gangwon 2024.

Gangwon 2024 runs until 1 February, with more than 1,800 athletes from 78 NOCs taking part. The Winter Youth Olympic Games is filmed for live television and digital streaming on the Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics app, with full session replays and highlights also available.