Swayman Starting for USA vs. Denmark in Olympic Showdown
Jeremy Swayman will start in goal for Team USA against Denmark at Santagiulia Arena in Milan on Saturday afternoon (3:10 p.m. ET), U.S. coach Mike Sullivan announced, marking a key matchup in the men’s hockey preliminary round at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Connor Hellebuyck will serve as backup for the Group C contest, while Jake Oettinger remains the third goaltender on the roster. The selection comes after Hellebuyck made 17 saves in Team USA’s 5-1 victory against Latvia on Thursday, when Swayman goalie duties fell to him as backup.
Rotating Assignments in Fast-Paced Tournament
Sullivan emphasized the strategic rotation needed for the compressed schedule. “At the end of the day, we’re playing three games in four nights, and we have three guys that we know are capable of helping us win games,” the coach said.
The Americans conclude their preliminary round action Sunday against Germany, with a chance to secure advancement in the tournament.
Strong Season Performance
The Boston Bruins goaltender enters the Olympics with a 22-12-3 record and a 2.92 goals-against average with a .903 save percentage across 38 games this season. Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, Swayman’s teammate in Boston, praised his competitive edge ahead of the matchup.
“He’s just a heck of a goaltender,” McAvoy said. “I think that’s his biggest skill, just his competitiveness. He’s unreal.”
Swayman brings Olympic experience to the crease, having won gold at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship as a member of Team USA.
