One of Hudson Valley’s star athletes will represent the United States at the 2022 Winter Olympics. Nick Abruzzese of Orange County joins the roster of the U.S. men’s hockey team in Beijing, where they will play their first preliminary round game on Thursday, Feb. 10 against China. The 22-year-old forward is a junior at Harvard University student and a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect.
“Minisink Valley is beyond proud for Nick’s roots to be here,” said its Athletic Director Tim Bult in a press release. “He’s representing our nation, but he’ll also be representing Minisink Valley and our school community as well.”
Abruzzese joins a young Team USA squad that is comprised heavily of NCAA players after the the National Hockey League (NHL) opted to not send professional athletes to the Winter Olympics due to COVID-19 outbreaks that forced the postponement of 50 NHL games. Abruzzese is one of 15 college players on the team, as well as eight European pros and two American Hockey League (AHL) players. The young roster includes Drew Commesso, 19, who is the youngest goaltender in Team USA’s history.
Abruzzese graduated from Minisink Valley High School in 2017 before signing a letter of intent to attend and play for Harvard University — even despite his high school not having a hockey team.
“Nick was a gifted athlete who could have lettered in multiple sports while he was at Minisink,” said Bult. Abruzzese also played baseball, lacrosse and soccer when he was younger. “His ice hockey success is due to his determination and tenacity to excel as a club hockey player. That, with the support of his family and a group of coaches who mentored him, is how he became the player he is today.”
Before hitting the ice for Harvard in 2019, Abruzzese played for AAA hockey clubs — the highest level of youth hockey — and then moved on to U.S. Hockey League (USHL), which is the top junior ice hockey league sanctioned by USA Hockey for players between the ages of 16 and 21.
Abruzzese played for the USHL’s Chicago Steel from 2017 to 2019 and led the league with 80 points in the 2018-2019 season.
At Harvard, Abruzzese, who is a psychology major, is the team captain and has scored 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) this season to lead the NCAA.
“We’re so proud of Nick and we’re excited for him to get the chance to represent the United States in the Olympics,” said Harvard’s head men’s ice hockey coach Ted Donato. “Going to the Olympics is a lifetime achievement and honor.”
Sean Farrell, Abruzzese’s Harvard teammate, is also on Team USA. “Our guys couldn’t be more excited to watch them both,” said Donato. “It was an opportunity that arose when the NHL decided not to go to the Olympics. That got Nick into the conversation, and we’re real happy for him.”
Growing up, Abruzzese followed his father’s lead in rooting for the New York Rangers. The U.S. men’s hockey team is led by former New York Rangers head coach David Quinn.
“This is something that doesn’t come around a whole lot. It’s hard to pass up on that opportunity,” Abruzzese said to The Harvard Crimson. “Above all else, being able to represent my country is probably the biggest honor of my life.”
The 2022 Winter Olympics began on Friday, Feb. 4 in Beijing.
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