USA Hockey has revealed its roster for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Among those chosen were Blues forwards David Backes and T.J. Oshie along with defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.
The 2014 Winter Olympics will be held Feb. 7-23.
Backes, 29, will be representing the United States for the fifth time in his career. Previously, the Minneapolis, Minnesota native appeared in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 World Championships as well as the 2010 Winter Olympics, where the U.S. earned the silver medal. This season, the 6-foot-3, 221-pound forward shares third on the Blues with 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) and ranks second with 70 penalty minutes.
In addition, he joins Alex Ovechkin as the only other player with at least 100 hits and 15 goals thus far.
Overall, Backes has dressed in 529 games during his eight-year National Hockey League (NHL) career, amassing 330 points (148 goals, 182 assists) and 733 penalty minutes. Since entering the league in 2006-07, Backes (plus-51) joins Zach Parise as the only U.S.-born players with at least 300 points and a +50 rating.
Oshie, 27, will be representing the U.S. for the fifth time in his career and the first at the Olympics. The Everett, Washington native appeared at the 2006 World Juniors as well as the 2009, 2010 and 2013 World Championships. This season, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound forward ranks second on the Blues with 33 points including 27 assists, which shares ninth among all skaters.
In addition, among players that average over 15 minutes of even strength ice time per game (70 players), Oshie is one of 12 (along with Backes and Alexander Steen) that also average over 1:30 of shorthanded time and 2:00 of power-play time per game.
Overall, Oshie has dressed in 331 games during his six-year NHL career, accumulating 228 points (76 goals, 152 assists) and 160 penalty minutes.
Shattenkirk, 24, will be representing the U.S for the fourth time in his career and first at the Olympics. The New Rochelle, New York native appeared at the 2007 U-18 World Junior, 2009 World Juniors and 2011 World Championships, while he also spent four seasons in the U.S. National Development program (2005-2007). This season, the 5-foot-11, 207-pound defenseman leads the Blues’ defense and shares fifth among all defensemen with 28 points (six goals, 22 assists) while his 15 power play points is tied for second overall.
In addition, his three game-winning goals are a career-high and share the lead among all defensemen. Overall, Shattenkirk has dressed in 239 games during his four-year NHL career, totaling 137 points (29 goals, 108 assists) and 130 penalty minutes.
Since entering the league in 2010-11, Shattenkirk ranks fourth in points and assists, while sharing third in goals among U.S.-born defensemen.
