Former University of Maine goalie Jeremy Swayman has been named to the United States Olympic Team roster, becoming the fourth Black Bear goalie to go on to earn a Team USA roster spot for the Winter Olympics.
The Boston Bruins netminder joins Jimmy Howard (2014), Mike Dunham (1994) and Garth Snow (1994) in that group of former UMaine goalies to earn a place on the U.S. Olympic roster.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are in Italy from Feb. 6-22.
Swayman is one of three goalies on the roster along with Dallas’ Jake Oettinger and Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck.
All three played in Hockey East with Oettinger tending net for Boston University and Hellebuyck for UMass Lowell.
The 27-year-old Swayman has a 15-10-2 record, a 2.84 goals-against average and a .904 save percentage for the Bruins this season. He has stopped 53 of 57 shots in his last two games, making 34 saves in a 6-2 win in Edmonton after stopping 19 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss at Calgary.
Swayman had his worst season as a pro last year, compiling a 22-29-7 record with a 3.11 GAA and a .892 save percentage.
But he bounced back dramatically to lead the United States to its first gold medal in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Championships since 1933 in May. The World Championships were held in Sweden and Denmark.
He went 7-0 with a 1.69 GAA and a .921 save percentage and had two shutouts in that tournament, including a 25-save performance in the 1-0 overtime win over Switzerland in the gold medal game.
The 27-year-old Oettinger is 16-7-3 with a 2.57 GAA and a .907 save percentage with Dallas this season. Hellebuyck is 9-10-3 with a 2.51 GAA and a .907 save percentage for Winnipeg.
The 32-year-old Hellebuyck had arthroscope knee surgery in November and was sidelined for several weeks before returning last month.
He is a three-time winner of the Vezina Trophy, which goes to the NHL’s best goaltender. He won his third one last season and he was also the recipient of the Hart Trophy which goes to the league’s Most Valuable Player.
Swayman has a career record of 116-72-24 for the Bruins with a 2.61 GAA and a .909 save percentage.
The Anchorage, Alaska, native won the Mike Richter Award given to the nation’s best college goalie in his third and final season at UMaine in 2019-20. He was one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award which goes to the country’s best player.
He was an All-American after going 18-11-5 with a 2.07 GAA and a .939 save percentage.
He was drafted in the fourth round by the Bruins in 2017.
