OXFORD, Ohio — Andy Miele, a former star at Miami University who won a Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, was named the captain of the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team on Thursday.
Miele helped the American squad defeat China 8-0 to open the tournament.
For the second straight Olympics, the tournament is being composed of the top players outside of the NHL. The NHL opted not to send its players to China because of schedule disruptions caused by the pandemic.
Miele’s RedHawks went to the NCAA Tournament in all four of his seasons at Miami, including a 2009 appearance in the national championship that ended in a heartbreaking overtime loss to Boston University.
Since departing Oxford in 2011, Miele has played 15 NHL and 478 American Hockey League games. Miele has spent the last two seasons with the Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod of the Kontinental Hockey League, which has supplied much of the Olympic hockey talent amid the NHL’s absence.
Current Miami University head coach Chris Bergeron, who was an assistant under Enrico Blasi during Miele’s time at Miami, celebrated Thursday’s announcement.
“Everyone associated with Miami Hockey is very proud of Andy Miele for being named to the 2022 U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team,” Bergeron said about Miele making the roster. “To be named captain is a very deserving honor and speaks volumes about him as a human being and leader. We look forward to watching Andy and his team compete for an Olympic medal. The Miami University Hockey family will be cheering them on.”
In Thursday’s opener, Miele notched an assist.
The American squad also includes Jake Sanderson, the son of former Jackets staff Geoff Sanderson.
The U.S. squad next faces Canada on Saturday.
