Former St. Louis Jr. Blues forward Paul Stastny can add another Olympic team to his growing resume. Stastny was named this weekend to Team USA for the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. According to a release from the Colorado Avalanche, where Stastny is in his 8th season:
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Colorado Avalanche center Paul Stastny was named to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, USA Hockey announced today following the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic. Stastny will represent the United States at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games held Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia.
Stastny will be making his second appearance at the Olympics, as he helped Team USA capture the silver medal at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. Stastny played in all six games for the Americans, tallying a goal and two assists while winning 54% of his faceoffs.
In addition to the Olympics, Stastny, 28, has also represented his country at three world championships (2007, 2012, 2013), finishing as one of USA’s top two scorers at all three events. He helped the United States win the bronze medal at the 2013 IIHF World Championship in Helsinki and Stockholm, as he led Team USA in scoring with 15 points (7g/8a) in 10 games as the Americans captured their first medal at the event since 2004. Stastny’s 15 points ranked second among all tournament scorers, while his team-high seven goals finished third. Born in Quebec City, Quebec, Stastny was raised in St. Louis, Mo., and holds dual citizenship.
Selected by Colorado in the second round (44th overall) of the 2005 Entry Draft, Stastny is currently in his eighth NHL season. He ranks fourth on the Avalanche in scoring this year with 25 points (11g/14a) in 37 games. Stastny, who recently played his 500th NHL game, sits eighth on the franchise's all-time scoring list with 423 points (146g/277a) in 504 career games.
