Wild at the Olympics: Matt Boldy, Snoop Dogg and a contingent chasing medals
MINNEAPOLIS — A notable Minnesota Wild presence has arrived in Milan for the Winter Olympics, with players scattered across several national teams, goalies posting polar opposite performances and a small slice of pop culture hanging out in the Olympic Village. The lineup includes well-known names and young hopefuls — and one coach will make a key goaltending call on Wednesday (ET).
Wild representation spans multiple teams
The Wild footprint at these Games is sizable. On the Swedish side, Filip Gustavsson, Jesper Wallstedt, Joel Eriksson Ek and Marcus Johansson are in the mix. For the United States, Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber join the roster, and Wild minor-leaguers David Spacek and Samuel Hlavaj are also suiting up for their respective countries. Injuries reshuffled selections: Johansson was added after another player was ruled out, and a separate Wild defenseman also had to bow out before the tournament began.
Goalies delivered mixed opening-day results
The first day of men's tournament play produced a stark contrast for goaltenders connected with the organization. Samuel Hlavaj, skating for Slovakia, stood tall in a major upset, turning aside 39 shots and backstopping his team to a 4-1 victory over a heavily favored opponent. The performance spotlighted his potential and offered a boost to his profile at age 24.
On the other end, Sweden’s Filip Gustavsson had a jittery start in his nation’s opener against the host country before settling in. He finished with 20 saves on 22 shots, and Sweden scraped out a 5-2 win, but early lapses in the game left lingering questions about rhythm and command that Sweden’s staff will monitor moving forward.
Wallstedt awaits a starting nod
Sweden coach Sam Hallam will announce on Wednesday (ET) whether Gustavsson, Jacob Markstrom or rookie Jesper Wallstedt will start the team’s next game. Wallstedt, 23, earned his Olympic call after a strong start to the season and a standout November. He says wearing the Three Crowns is a dream come true and that he is prepared to be ready whenever the staff turns to him.
Hallam has signaled comfort with all three options, calling the decision a heavy one that weighs form, workload and recent results. For Wallstedt, the Olympics are also a continuation of a personal hockey education that included watching earlier Games as a child and admiring idols in goal.
Eriksson Ek and the U. S. trio’s roles
Joel Eriksson Ek made a quick early impact in Sweden’s opener, finishing with nine shots on goal in just 17 minutes of ice time. His energetic, high-tempo approach has translated well to the international stage, and he’ll be expected to provide offense and forechecking pressure as Sweden advances.
For the Americans, Quinn Hughes, Matt Boldy and Brock Faber represent a blend of puck-moving defense, scoring punch and defensive reliability. Fans and teammates alike will be watching how the U. S. lines gel; Boldy in particular arrives with expectations to contribute offensively and chase a stack of medals that would mark a career milestone for the young forward. Also on hand: American forward matt boldy, noted among the contingent in the Olympic Village.
Olympic Village snapshot: teammates, celebrities and camaraderie
Beyond on-ice storylines, the Village has felt like a hockey hangout. Players from different nations have been seen socializing together between practices and skates, lending the atmosphere a familiar, collegial tone. A memorable photo opportunity captured a group that included several Wild players alongside a high-profile visitor, underscoring how these Games blend sport, culture and personality in equal measure.
With group play underway and key decisions pending this week, the Wild’s multiple representatives will shape storylines for both their NHL club and national teams. The next 48 hours, with a coaching announcement coming Wednesday (ET) and more ice time ahead, should help separate early noise from substantive performance as the tournament continues.
