Former UNO star Jake Guentzel helps lead Team USA to its first hockey gold since 1980
by JOHN FEY
During Jake Guentzel’s first season at UNO in 2013, he was asked what his favorite hockey movie was. His answer: “Miracle,” which chronicled Team USA winning the gold medal at the 1980 Winter Olympics.
At the XXV Olympic Winter Games in Italy, Guentzel helped lead Team USA to its first gold medal since 1980 — a breakthrough more than four decades in the making.
Starting in 1998, Team USA has selected its Olympic roster from NHL players, and this year Guentzel earned his spot as a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
For the veteran left winger, the experience was indescribable.
“Everything about it was pretty special,” Guentzel said in a story on the Lightning’s website. “I can’t even put into words what it meant to be over there and to be part of the Olympics.”
USA Men’s Hockey went undefeated in the Olympics and capped it with a 2-1 overtime win over Canada.
“Right from the start of this tournament we felt like we were destined to win,” Guentzel said, “and we felt like we had the team to win. It was an unbelievable group to be a part of.”
Before the gold medal and the international spotlight, Guentzel’s foundation was built years earlier at UNO.
Guentzel, 31, has plenty of memories from his UNO career. He helped lead the Mavs to the program’s first Frozen Four appearance in 2015. During his three-year career at UNO, he had 40 goals and 79 assists in 108 games.
His coach at UNO, Dean Blais, was thrilled to learn Guentzel was on Team USA. He labeled Guentzel as the best player he coached during his four years at UNO.
“Jake was a great college player,” Blais said. “There were a lot of great college players in Omaha, but he’s the one who surprised everyone when he went on to Pittsburgh and won a Stanley Cup playing with Sidney Crosby (in 2017).”
Several other UNO athletes, including Brian Cooper, Fredrik Olofsson, Mike Rostampour, Pinar Saka and Maja Mihalinec, have competed in past Olympics, but Guentzel is the first Maverick to bring home gold.
Blais believes Guentzel not only put UNO hockey on the map by becoming an Olympian, but his success could also be used during recruiting by current coach Mike Gabinet.
“It ultimately will help Mike recruit some top-line players from Canada and the United States,” Blais said. “They’ll know where Omaha is because of Jake.”
Mike Kemp, UNO hockey’s first coach, also witnessed Guentzel’s potential during his UNO career.
“I knew he would be a great college hockey player,” Kemp said, “but he’s taken it above where most of us thought he would.”
He added this about Guentzel being an Olympian: “It’s a huge point of pride. When we see any of our kids get that exposure, and they talk about our program, it means the world.”
Still basking in the glow of bringing a gold medal home, Guentzel reflected on an “unbelievable two weeks.”
“It’s pretty incredible what we were able to accomplish over in Milan, and it’s been a long time coming for USA Hockey to get the gold medal,” he said. “We feel pretty blessed.”
