The High Schools and Prep Programs That Shaped Team USA’s 2026 Olympic Hockey Roster

Minnesota powerhouses, New England prep schools, and elite development programs all played a role in building the next U.S. Olympic hockey team.

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7), who one starred at Maple Grove High in Minnesota, is one of several former prep stars named to the USA Men's Hockey Olympic Team. / Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

When USA Hockey unveiled its roster for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, on Friday, the names were familiar to NHL fans and international hockey observers alike. But long before these players skated on NHL ice or represented the United States on the world stage, many of them sharpened their skills in American high school and prep hockey programs — while others took alternative development paths that bypassed traditional scholastic competition altogether.

From Minnesota public-school powerhouses and New England prep schools to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, the roster tells a revealing story about where elite American hockey talent is truly being developed.

Below is a breakdown of where members of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team came from — and, importantly for High School On SI readers, where they played (or did not play) high school or prep hockey.

Minnesota Still Reigns Supreme

No state is more synonymous with high school hockey than Minnesota, and the Olympic roster reinforces that reputation.

• Jake Guentzel (Woodbury, MN) starred at Hill-Murray School, one of the most storied programs in the state.
• Brock Nelson (Warroad, MN) played for Warroad High School, a public-school dynasty that has produced generations of elite players.
• Jake Oettinger (Lakeville, MN) competed at Lakeville North High School before moving on to juniors and college hockey.
• Brock Faber (Maple Grove, MN) played at Maple Grove Senior High School, another Minnesota public-school powerhouse.

Minnesota’s presence on the roster highlights the continued relevance of traditional high school hockey in producing Olympic-level talent.

2026 USA Hockey Player Origins / High School On SI

New England Prep Hockey Pipeline

Several Olympians developed through New England prep schools, long regarded as a launching pad for elite NCAA and professional careers.

• Matt Boldy (Millis, MA) attended St. Sebastian’s School in Needham, Massachusetts.
• Noah Hanifin (Norwood, MA) played at St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts.
• Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, NY) competed at Long Beach High School on Long Island before moving into higher levels of competition.
• Tage Thompson (Orange, CT) played prep hockey at Avon Old Farms School in Connecticut.

Prep hockey continues to serve as a critical bridge between youth hockey and the NCAA for elite prospects in the Northeast.

The USA Hockey NTDP Effect

A significant portion of the roster did not play traditional high school hockey, instead developing through the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP) in Plymouth, Michigan.

Players who bypassed high school hockey include:

• Jack Hughes (MI)
  Quinn Hughes (MI)
  Zach Werenski (MI)
  Auston Matthews (AZ)
  Clayton Keller (MO)

These players either left their high schools early or never competed in varsity hockey, opting instead for full-time national development — a trend that continues to grow among elite prospects.

Non-Traditional Hockey States on the Rise

The Olympic roster also reflects hockey’s expanding geographic footprint.

• Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, AZ) did not play high school hockey, developing instead through elite club programs and later overseas.
  Seth Jones (Arlington, TX) did not compete in Texas high school hockey, moving early into elite travel and junior systems.
  Jeremy Swayman (Anchorage, AK) attended Bartlett High School, representing one of the most unique development paths on the roster.
  Jake Sanderson (Whitefish, MT) did not play traditional high school hockey, advancing quickly into national and junior programs.

What the Roster Reveals About High School Hockey

The 2026 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team offers a revealing snapshot of modern American player development:

• Minnesota public schools and New England prep programs remain elite pipelines
• USA Hockey’s NTDP has become the dominant route for top-tier prospects
• High school hockey is still relevant — but no longer universal
• Non-traditional states are producing Olympic-level talent through alternative pathways

The takeaway from this roster is clear; while elite development models continue to evolve, high school and prep hockey still matter, and in many cases, they remain the foundation for Olympic dreams.

2026 USA Men's Hockey Olympic Team Roster

Player	Home State	NHL Team	H.S./Prep Hockey
Forwards
Matt Boldly	Massachusetts	Minnesota	Grew up in Millis, MA; played youth/HS hockey locally; starred at Boston College.
Kyle Connor	Michigan	Winnipeg	From Shelby Township, MI; played youth hockey in Michigan.
Jack Eichel	Massachusetts	Las Vegas	North Chelmsford, MA; Development through local youth hockey, NTDP & Boston University.
Jake Guentzel	Minnesota	Tampa Bay	Woodbury, MN; played at Hill-Murray School (noted hockey powerhouse).
Clayton Keller	Missouri	Utah	St. Louis, MO; developed through Missouri youth programs before NCAA.
Jack Hughes	Michigan	New Jersey	Canton, MI; USA Hockey NTDP alum before NHL.
Dylan Larkin	Michigan	Detroit	Waterford, MI; local youth hockey, USHL, then NCAA
Auston Matthews	Arizona	Toronto	Scottsdale, AZ; moved to prep/elite programs before NHL draft.
J.T. Miller	Ohio	NY Rangers	East Palestine, OH; played youth in Pittsburgh area.
Brock Nelson	Minnesota	Colorado	Warroad, MN; played high school prep in hockey-rich Warroad.
Brady Tkachuk	Missouri	Ottawa	St. Louis, MO; youth hockey in the area (Keith Tkachuk’s son).
Matthew Tkachuk	Missouri	Florida	St. Louis, MO; youth hockey in the area (Keith Tkachuk’s son).
Tage Thompson	Connecticut	Buffalo	Orange, CT; Connecticut youth/rinks before juniors.
Vincent Trocheck	Pennsylvania	NY Rangers	Pittsburgh, PA; grew up in the area’s youth hockey.
Defensemen
Brock Faber	Minnesota	Minnesota	Maple Grove, MN; strong Minnesota prep background.
Noah Hanifin	Massachussets	Las Vegas	Norwood, MA; played local MA youth/NTDP.
Quinn Hughes	Michigan	Minnesota	Canton, MI; NTDP/elite prep development.
Seth Jones	Texas	Florida	Arlington, TX; moved to play elite youth hockey outside TX.
Charlie McAvoy	New York	Boston	Long Beach, NY; Long Island hockey background.
Jake Sanderson	Montana	Ottawa	Whitefish, MT; grew up with strong Montana hockey roots.
Jaccob Slavin	Colorado	Carolina	Erie, CO; Colorado youth hockey.
Zack Werenski	Michigan	Columbus	Grosse Pointe Woods, MI; Michigan youth/NTDP.
Goalkeepers
Connor Hellebuyck	Michigan	Winnipeg	Commerce, MI; MI youth/college.
Jake Oettinger	Minnesota	Dallas	Lakeville, MN; strong MN prep hockey.
Jeremy Swayman	Alaska	Boston	Alaska youth hockey before NCAA/NHL.