St. Cloud State University was well-represented in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China in February, with numerous current and former Huskies taking on the global stage.
Five Huskies past and present from the St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey Team and two current student-athletes from the St. Cloud State Women’s Hockey Team represented their countries in the Winter Games including Jenniina Nylund who took home the Huskies first Olympic medal. Their selections in the Olympics extended a growing list of St. Cloud State athletes and coaches to take part in the Olympic Games.
Men’s Hockey
In Men’s Ice Hockey competition, St. Cloud State Head Coach Brett Larson, senior forward Sam Hentges and senior defenseman Nick Perbix were part of the 2022 U.S. Olympic Men’s Hockey Team. Larson made his Olympic debut as an assistant coach, while Hentges and Perbix took the ice as the eighth and ninth Huskies to be named Olympians in program history.
Along with that trio on Team USA, St. Cloud State alumni Patrick Russell (2014-16) and Oliver Lauridsen (2008-11) participated with the Denmark Olympic Team, marking the 10th and 11th Huskies to be named Olympians.
Both the U.S. and Denmark missed out on medals in Beijing, with both national teams seeing their runs come to an end in the quarterfinal round. Hentges finished the Olympics with one goal, while Perbix finished with one assist for Team USA. For Team Denmark, Lauridsen finished with one assist and Russell had three assists.
Women’s Hockey
In Women’s Hockey Competition, Huskies senior forward Jenniina Nylund was part of the Finland National Team and junior forward Klara Hymlarova took the ice for the Czech Republic. The duo became the second and third Olympians in program history, joining Janine Alder.
Nylund enjoyed a historic run with Finland in the Winter Olympics, capping off her first Olympics appearance by earning a Bronze Medal and becoming the first-ever active player to earn an Olympic medal in program history. Nylund skated in all seven games for Finland, finishing with one goal.
Hymlarova and the Czech Republic saw their Olympics run end in the quarterfinal round, missing out on a medal. Hymlarova took the ice in four games, putting together a strong showing that resulted in one goal scored.
