The Olympic stage is one that many athletes dream of. This dream will come true for former UConn Husky and hockey player Tage Thompson.
The current Buffalo Saber is excited to take the ice this winter and represent his country’s colors.
“Anytime you get to wear your country’s flag and represent your country, it is a huge honor. To do it on the biggest stage means a lot to me. I have been dreaming about this for a long time, so I am really looking forward to it,” he said, according to CT Insider.
Hockey has always been in Thompson’s blood, with his father, Brent Thompson, being a former NHL player and coach. His brother, Tyce, is also a professional hockey player currently playing in the KHL.
Thompson was born in Phoenix, Ariz., and found himself moving frequently before settling down and calling Connecticut his home. He lived in Orange, Conn., where he later committed to playing Division I hockey at UConn.
Making a name for himself in the first year, Thompson led the nation in most power-play goals, netting 13.
He continued his success in his sophomore year when he scored 19 goals, setting a new school record. Although this record was later broken, his legacy lives on.
Thompson entered the 2016 NHL Draft and was selected 26th overall by the St. Louis Blues, where he would play one full season with them.
In July, Thompson was traded to a place closer to home: Buffalo. The Sabers picked up Thompson and have kept him on their roster ever since. He has netted over 200 goals throughout his career, with a standout year coming in 2022-23 where he had a 47-goal, 94-point season.
He was initially a winger but later switched to center as he was known for his successful scoring. Standing at 6-foot 6 and weighing 200 pounds, he is known for his long reach and fast shot, helping the Sabers offense.
In 2025, the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship took place in Europe, with changes looking to be made on the USA squad. The coaches came together and decided that Thompson could be their missing piece despite being left off the roster the previous year in the Four Nations Face-Off. Not only did he help the team, but he also won the tournament. Scoring the winning goal in overtime, he lifted the USA to beat Switzerland 1-0 in the gold medal game.
He was ecstatic about the win and glad he could help his team. “It was awesome, and it helped prepare me for the Olympics a little bit,” he said, according to CT Insider.
Thompson has maintained his success going through his play this year. He has scored 29 goals and 29 assists so far this season, according to ESPN. This has helped Buffalo climb up the rankings, putting them in the top four in the Atlantic Division. He is looking to continue that same offensive firepower to help bring home the gold for the USA.
The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing did not end the way they wanted for men’s ice hockey. After going undefeated in the group stage, they fell short in a shootout against Slovakia. This loss would end their run and send them home without medals.
This was one of the youngest teams put together by the USA after the NHL opted out of the Olympics. The NHL has since finalized a deal to allow players to participate, giving NHL stars such as Thompson the opportunity to claim gold.
“If I’m not scoring, what else am I doing to impact the game?” Thompson said, according to NHL.com. “I want to be the guy that the coach can rely on in all situations. Obviously, when you’re competing for a spot on the Olympic team, there’s the best players in the world, so you’ve got to find something to do that separates yourself from the other guys.”
Thompson will maintain this mentality as Team USA prepares for its gold medal run.
The USA will take on Latvia for its first preliminary game in the group stage.
The game will be held on Feb. 12 and can be streamed on Peacock and NBC.