The U.S. Olympic Hockey team rosters were announced on New Year's Day, and they include an impressive list of athletes who either grew up in Massachusetts or went to college locally.
The women's team includes three undergraduates and two alumni from the Boston College team.
The three current BC students had already withdrawn from school to play for the U.S. national team. Now, they've made the more selective Olympic squad. Megan Keller and Kali Flanagan would have been seniors this year, and Cayla Barnes was recruited for the national team just weeks into her freshman year. BC alums Emily Pfalzer and Haley Skarupa also made the cut.
Boston College women's hockey head coach Katie Crowley is proud to have coached all five women.
“There is that pride where they’ve worn that Boston College jersey and now they’re going to be playing in the Olympics," Crowley said. "And, you know, it’s awesome.”
Crowley is a three-time Olympian herself, and won a gold medal 20 years ago — the first time women’s hockey was part of the Olympics.
“What better time than now to get our second gold medal? So hopefully they all get to experience that," she said.
The women's Olympic team also includes Meghan Duggan, who is from Danvers, and Kacey Bellamy from Westfield.
The men’s team includes Bobby Butler of Marlborough, Ryan Donato of Scituate, Noah Welch of Brighton, John McCarthy of Boston, and Chris Bourque of Boston, whose father is hall-of-famer Ray Bourque.
The team also includes Brian Gionta of the NHL's Buffalo Sabres, who played for Boston College, and Matt Gilroy and Jordan Greenway, who played for Boston University.
