For gold and God’s glory, Canes’ Slavin reps USA in Winter Games :: WRAL.com

He’s been a National Hockey League all-star. He’s additionally a two-time winner of the Lady Byng Trophy — given each season to the NHL participant voted to have the perfect mixture of sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct and skill.

Now Carolina Hurricanes 6’3” defenseman Jaccob Slavin is including Team USA Olympian to his resume. 

The Carolina Hurricanes will be well-represented on the ice in Milan, Italy, as 5 gamers will go well with as much as symbolize their dwelling nations. Sebastian Aho (Finland), Nikolaj Ehlers (Denmark), Frederik Andersen (Denmark), and late addition Seth Jarvis (Canada) be part of Slavin as Hurricanes Olympians.

It’s been a protracted journey for Slavin to make it to this week. 

Slavin grew up in Colorado as one among 5 siblings and was chosen within the fourth spherical (No. 120) of the 2012 NHL Draft by the Hurricanes. But earlier than beginning his time as a professional, he performed two years for Colorado College. He’s the ninth former Colorado College Tiger to compete within the Olympics. He debuted for the Hurricanes on Nov. 18, 2015, ending his rookie season with 20 factors (two targets, 18 assists) in 63 video games.

Outside of enjoying, Slavin is a husband, father to 2 and a powerful Christian. He’s very outspoken about his faith on social media and the way it has impacted how he has raised his household.

“Our faith is the most important thing to us in our life,” Slavin mentioned. “It’s just the lens I see everything through. So whether that’s playing the game of hockey or being a husband or father, it’s all for the glory of God.”

He hasn’t performed as a lot this season to this point, attributable to accidents. However, his ice time has steadily elevated, and he appears prepared for Milan. He stays the Hurricanes franchise report holder amongst defensemen in factors, assists and shorthanded factors (18).

In the 2024-25 season, he made the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off. While nothing is kind of just like the Olympic Games, this expertise ready him for what worldwide competitors appears like.

“I go back to last year with the Four Nations and just how awesome the hockey was playing against Canada, Sweden, and Finland,” Slavin mentioned. “Those games were just intense. It was unbelievable hockey.”

Now a childhood dream of Slavin’s is changing into a actuality. He’ll have his mother and father and spouse supporting him in Milan, as he goals to assist Team USA seize a gold medal. It received’t be a simple feat for the Americans, as they’ve managed to win gold solely twice (1960 and 1980), with Canada dominating with 9 golds.

“I think for the most part it was just excitement,” he mentioned after studying he had made the Olympic roster. “Maybe a little bit of nerves for my wife having to fly overseas for the first time. My parents were there [when I found out] and it was something that they were excited for because obviously they’ve been there for my whole journey. They were probably more excited for me than I was for myself.”

The Hurricanes athletes can be opponents moderately than teammates for the Olympics and a few will face off towards each other when Denmark takes on Team USA on Saturday. Before they got here to Italy, Slavin talked about how all the Hurricane Olympians would share logistics data with each other.

But Slavin isn’t targeted on enjoying towards pleasant faces. He’s simply protecting his focus easy.

“I feel on the subject of enjoying towards one another, as soon as the puck drops, it’s simply going to be a hockey sport. 

If he does get some downtime, he’s hoping to see determine skating along with his daughter and go to Lake Como. But his massive objective stays the identical.

“We’re there to win gold.”

Anna Laible is a play-by-play broadcaster, podcast host, and junior at UNC Chapel Hill.