Either Ducks defeseman Jackson LaCombe or Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper will be an Olympic gold medalist at the conclusion of Saturday’s U.S.-Canada men’s hockey game in Milan, Italy without playing.
Under Olympic rules, all players on the rosters of medal-winning teams receive medals.
LaCombe has not dressed for any of the five U.S. games in the Olympics, all victories. He was added to the team Jan. 21, 22 days before its opener, replacing Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones, who suffered an upper-body injury when he was hit with a puck in the first period of the Winter Classic Jan. 2.
LaCombe, who turned 25, Jan. 9, is the third-youngest defenseman on the U.S. team and its fifth-youngest player. He was selected by the Ducks in the second round of the 2019 NHL draft, the 39th overall selection following his senior season at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School — an Episcopal boarding and day school in Faribault, Minnesota, known for its renowned boys’ and girls’ hockey programs.
LaCombe played the next four seasons for the University of Minnesota, leading Golden Gophers’ defensemen in points and goals each of his final three seasons and helping them to three Frozen Four appearances.
He made his NHL debut on April 11, 2023, the Diucks’ next-to-last game of the season. He has played 204 NHL games, with 22 goals and 75 assists. He signed an eight-year contract extension before the start of this season, which goes into effect next season. It is worth $72 million, the most lucrative agreement in franchise history, according to The Orange County Register.
Kuemper has been in uniform for three of Canada’s five games, all victories.
Canada’s roster also includes Kings’ defenseman Drew Doughty, who has one assist in five games. Doughty played for Canada’s gold medal-winning teams in the 2010 and 2014 Olympics.
The game is set to begin at 5:10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.