Siblings on the Roster

GRANADA – Being selected as an athlete to represent your country at a major international multi-sport event is already an achievement on itself, regardless of the fact of winning a medal or not. So what are the odds siblings make the cut for the team? Well, the USA men’s ice hockey team has the Olen brothers, both juniors at the University of Illinois, playing with the star spangled banner across their chest. Forward John Olen returns on the roster after having played in Trentino (2Brothers John & Joe Olen013 WU) and this year his brother Joe, one of Team USA’s goalies joined him on their epic adventure.

“It’s amazing being able to play together with your brother here at the Universiade”, John comments. “Yeah, he said it all”, adds his brother Joe. “Playing in a foreign country in front of big crowds, meeting people of different nationalities, it’s just great.”

“As I participated two years ago in Trentino, I was able to advise my younger brother about the tournament”, John continues. “I told him, he would see a higher level of play compared with what we see in the States and I told him he should pick up his game and I think we’ve done that so far.” Joe confirms: “Yeah, it’s a much faster paced game, shots are harder, you got to be ready for everything.”

“You know, it’s a dream come true for us to wear the USA jersey together, and looking back at that ‘Miracle on Ice’ game 35 years ago, [the legendary university players who beat the ‘unbeatable’ Soviet Hockey team at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics] gives us inspiration to create our own miracle here”, John concluded.

Christian Pierre, Press Officer