Tage Thompson’s long-held Olympic dream became reality Wednesday morning as the Buffalo Sabres prepared to travel to Dallas. General manager Jarmo Kekäläinen stopped Thompson before the team’s skate and passed him a phone. On the call, Team USA general manager Bill Guerin delivered the news Thompson had waited years to hear.
“To be honest with you, I didn’t know if I was going to be on the team or not,” Thompson said. “A lot of good American-born players. You never know, right? So, a little nerve-wracking answering the phone.”
Thompson was formally announced Friday as a member of Team USA’s 25-player roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. He becomes one of three Sabres connected to Olympic rosters, joining captain Rasmus Dahlin, who was previously named to Sweden’s team, and goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen, who will skate for Finland.
Since his breakout in the 2021-22 season, Thompson has established himself as one of the NHL’s top goal scorers, ranking among league leaders and trailing only Auston Matthews among American-born players. After being omitted from last winter’s 4 Nations Face-Off, Thompson seized the chance to play at the IIHF World Championship in May, scoring the overtime goal that secured the United States’ first gold medal at the event since 1933.
Thompson leads the Sabres in goals and points this season, and his Olympic selection adds another milestone to his growing résumé.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].