LaCombe Replaces Jones on Team USA for Olympics
In a significant development for Team USA, defenseman LaCombe has replaced Jones for the upcoming Olympic Games. This change could have a notable impact on the team’s performance in the tournament.
LaCombe’s Impressive Season and Olympic Journey
LaCombe, a 25-year-old defenseman, has had a solid season with 31 points, which includes six goals and 25 assists over 49 games. Drafted 39th overall by Anaheim in the 2019 NHL Draft, he has accumulated a total of 91 points from 197 regular-season games played.
Previous Achievements
- Gold medalist with Team USA at the 2025 World Championships.
- Participated in the United States Olympic Orientation Camp in August.
- Did not play for the U.S. at the Four Nations Face-Off last season.
During the Olympic camp, LaCombe expressed his enthusiasm about being part of the experience rather than solely focusing on team selection. He stated, “Obviously just at this camp is awesome for me to experience and then get to meet all these other guys. I’m just happy with where I’m at and trying to take it one day at a time and enjoy it.”
Olympic Tournament Structure
This year marks the return of NHL players to the Olympics, the first time since 2014. The tournament format includes:
- 12 participating teams.
- Each team will play three preliminary games.
- The three group winners and the best second-place team will advance directly to the quarterfinals.
- Eight teams will engage in single-elimination matches for the remaining quarterfinal spots.
The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22, with Team USA slated to compete in Group C. Their preliminary games are set as follows:
| Date | Opponent |
|---|---|
| February 12 | Team Latvia |
| February 14 | Team Denmark |
| February 15 | Team Germany |
The last time the United States claimed a gold medal in men’s hockey was in 1980, during the iconic Lake Placid games. Team USA will look to end this long wait with a strong performance led by players like LaCombe.
