New Canaan Native Makes Olympic Hockey Debut Thursday For Team USA

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. – Players with ties to Connecticut on the U.S. men’s hockey team will make their Olympic debut Thursday when it plays Slovakia in Sochi, Russia.

New Canaan native Max Pacioretty makes his Olympic debut for Team USA Thursday against Slovakia.
Photo Credit: *USA Hockey*

Tom Renner

02/13/2014 5:10 a.m.

The game is scheduled to face-off at 7:30 a.m. EST Thursday. Slovakia is also playing in its first game.

New Canaan native Max Pacioretty, Greenwich native Kevin Shattenkirk and Hamden native Jonathan Quick will play for Team USA.

Pacioretty, 25, is a forward who plays for the Montreal Canadiens in the National Hockey League. Shattenkirk is a 24-year-old defenseman who plays for St. Louis and Quick, 28, is a goalie for the Los Angeles Kings.

Pacioretty was injured in an NHL game on Saturday but still planned to play for Team USA.

The team's second game will be against Russia at 7:30 a.m. EST Saturday. Its third game will be against Slovenia at 7:30 a.m. EST Sunday.

The Slovakia, Russia and Slovenia games can all be seen on NBC Sports Network each day in the 5 p.m. rebroadcast.

Medal qualifying games are set for Tuesday, Feb. 18. Quarterfinal action is set for Wednesday, Feb. 19, followed by the bronze-medal game Saturday, Feb. 22, and gold-medal game on Sunday, Feb. 23.

You can view the entire Team USA hockey schedule here.

Click here for the complete Team USA lineup.

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