Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, who was just 12 years old the last time NHL players competed in the Winter Olympics, now has a unique opportunity to help Team USA claim Olympic gold for the first time since the 1980 Miracle On Ice. As the 2026 Winter Olympics approach in Milan, Italy, Oettinger is preparing to represent the United States on hockey’s biggest international stage.
Oettinger spoke with FOX 4’s Jeff Kolb shortly before departing for Italy, sharing his thoughts on what this Olympic experience means to him and how his personal journey has led him to this defining moment in his career.
The Significance of Representing Team USA
Along with his teammates, Jake Oettinger is traveling to Milan with his family, including his three-month-old son, Rhodes, to share in what he describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. Oettinger emphasized his desire to savor every moment while performing at his best for his country.
“I’m just trying to go over there and play as well as I can and enjoy every second,”
Oettinger told Kolb.
“It’s a dream come true once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. So just trying to soak it all in.”
Reflecting on his path, Oettinger recalls relocating from Minnesota to Michigan 12 years ago in order to join the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and pursue college hockey opportunities. At that time, the NHL seemed distant and unreachable.
“Never in a million years would you have thought that this would happen. I mean, I moved away from home because I wanted to play hockey in college and, you know, the NHL seemed like a million miles away,”
he said.
“Now that everything that I’ve done has led me to this point, you know, it makes all the sacrifices feel worth it. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I’d be an Olympian and to say that is really cool.”
Connecting with Past Olympic Champions
Oettinger has drawn inspiration from the past, especially from Jim Craig, the goaltender who helped Team USA capture gold in the 1980 Winter Olympics. Both Craig and Oettinger share ties to Boston University, where they honed their skills before launching professional careers. Ahead of the Milan Games, Oettinger had an opportunity to connect with Craig through a Zoom call that brought together several American Olympic goalies.
“Just met him briefly and had a Zoom call with him and a bunch of other USA goalies. I just remember being like, how did I get into this group of guys? I felt like I shouldn’t have been in that room,”
Oettinger reflected.
“You want to be there one day, and it’s just crazy that now I’m in those shoes.”
Growth Through Adversity and Public Setbacks
Last year’s Western Conference Final presented a difficult challenge for Oettinger when he was benched during Game 5. Despite the setback, he credits the experience with fueling his development and strengthening his mental resilience ahead of this Olympic opportunity.
“It helped me grow in a lot of ways,”
he said.
“And obviously, hoping I can get back to that point again in my career and obviously step up and play well. And what better stage and opportunity to show that you can. You know, play on the biggest stage in the Olympics.”
He acknowledges the unpredictability of such moments but stresses the importance of learning from them and relying on the support around him.
“Things happen to you that you can’t control. And yeah, I think you just learn a lot about, you know, who you are as a person, the people around you, the people that have your back. A lot of good things came out of it. Now it’s up to me to make sure it doesn’t happen again,”
Oettinger added.
Joining a Stacked Goalie Lineup for Team USA
Team USA’s roster for the Milan Games features three prominent goalies: Jake Oettinger alongside Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. Hellebuyck, a three-time Vezina Trophy winner, served as the starting goalie during the 4-Nations Face-Off event earlier this year, which also featured Oettinger.
The coaching staff has yet to decide which goaltender will start during the elimination rounds, and Oettinger accepts this uncertainty with determination to make the most of any opportunity on the ice.
“Yeah, there’s been no message at all. Just haven’t heard much,”
Oettinger shared.
“I’m just hoping I get the chance to play. And if I play to my best of my abilities and they wanna keep me going, then great. If not, I did everything I could. If I get a chance, I gotta go make it count.”
For now, his primary focus remains on competing against the world’s top players and contributing to Team USA’s medal ambitions.
Chasing Dreams of Stanley Cup and Olympic Gold
Oettinger made clear that winning an Olympic gold medal ranks alongside earning a Stanley Cup as the pinnacles of his athletic goals. He perceives Team USA as ready to contend seriously for gold in Milan and beyond, viewing anything less as falling short of expectations.
“I think that’s what every athlete dreams about. I think I want to win a Stanley Cup, and I want a win a gold medal in the Olympics,”
he said.
“And that’s our ultimate goal. And I think USA Hockey is at a point where anything less than that is a failure. So I’m just hoping I can contribute any way I can and enjoy every second of it.”
With his past trials strengthening him and a talented roster beside him, Jake Oettinger is poised to compete fiercely for the chance to bring Olympic gold back to the United States for the first time in over four decades.
