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Patrick Blennerhassett

So, National Hockey League players are out of Beijing 2022, but that doesn’t mean we can’t expect a thrilling men’s ice hockey competition much like we saw in 2018 in South Korea when Russia beat Germany to win gold.
Beijing 2022 could be very exciting for a number of reasons – first the fact the Russians are favoured again, but more importantly, there are some serious wild cards and dark horses in this tournament who could upset the narrative and bring about a performance for the ages.
Here’s five to keep your eye on who could make headlines Feb. 4 when ice hockey kicks off.
1. Owen Power


The Canadian is now the showpiece star of the tournament now that NHL players are staying home because of complications around Covid-19.
Power is likely to play in the NHL, possibly this season, snagging a few games at the end of the 2021-22 campaign for the Buffalo Sabres, who will not make the playoffs.
This will allow Power to get some NHL experience in without negating his rookie eligibility for the 2022-23 season. Pundits believe he could be a franchise defenceman, and the world will get a solid look at what he can do this February.
2. Eric Staal

The former NHL player who has yet to retire is a very interesting pick for Canada. He spent last season with the Montreal Canadiens, helping them all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before not getting signed to a new team for the 2021-22 season.
Staal is expected to be named captain of the squad given his vast experience in the NHL, which includes 1,293 games and 441 goals.
Staal has already won gold for Canada at both the Olympics and World Championships, but don’t expect him not to be motivated. If he plays exceptionally well in China, there is a solid chance an NHL team getting ready to make a deep play-off run will sign him to a short term deal and he could be chasing another Stanley Cup.
3. Artem Anisimov


Russia are the favourites after winning in 2018 in South Korea. They won in Pyeongchang playing good old fashioned Russian hockey (post Soviet Union that is), which means: outscore your opponent and forget about defence.
Anisimov will lead a forward corps that is basically a who’s who of talent in the Kontinental Hockey League, which is the third best ice hockey league in the world behind the NHL and its feeder league, the AHL.
Anisimov has NHL experience and is also a serious wild card for his personality, which gets him in trouble for over-celebrating goals from time to time.
4. Matty Beniers

As Power’s classmate at the University of Michigan, and the second overall draft pick behind Power in last year’s NHL class – going to the expansion Seattle Kraken – one may see the American Beniers as an understudy.
However he is far from it and many expect him to follow in the footsteps of young NHL centres such as Jack Hughes who are bringing a new level of skill to the game and position.
Beniers will lead a US team that is loaded with talent at a number of levels – collegiate, the minors, junior and international – that could challenge Russia for gold if they can gel quickly.
This will hinge on how well Beniers can play against the big boys on international ice, because without him, the US will be too weak down the middle to compete.
5. Spencer Foo

Although China has yet to officially announce its roster, reports are players who are currently suiting up for the Kunlun Red Star in the KHL will be playing.
This will surely include 27-year-old Chinese Canadian Spencer Foo, who is the team’s leading scorer.
With 14 goals and 33 points in 48 games, if China is going to score a goal (or two maybe if they are lucky) in one of their four games in the tournament, it will most likely be Foo who nets it. Foo is also joined on the team by his younger brother Parker Foo, who was also born in Canada and has been playing for the squad for a number of seasons.


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Beijing Winter Olympics 2022

Winter Olympics: 5 players to watch in men’s ice hockey at Beijing 2022, led by Owen Power and Matty Beniers

Owen Power is going to be a NHL star, most likely, and fans will get a premier chance to watch his game in action in China. Photo: AFP

Eric Staal will be the most decorated player in the tournament this February. Photo: AP

Look for Matty Beniers to lead a young US squad to a potential gold medal upset over Russia. Photo: AP

Kunlun Red Star’s Spencer Foo (left) will be as one of China’s top threats in the tournament. Photo: AP 

Winter Olympics: China’s top 10 hopes for Beijing include teen stars and serial gold-medal winners

(From left) Eileen Gu Ailing, Geng Wenqiang and Gao Yingyu of China. Photo: AFP, AP   

Eileen Gu Ailing of China celebrates after winning in the women’s freeski half-pipe event at the US Grand Prix tournament in California. Photo: AFP 

Xu Mengtao of China wins in a World Cup freestyle aerials competition event in the US. Photo: AP 

Jia Zongyang of China in the men’s aerials final at the Freestyle International Ski World Cup in Utah. Photo: AFP 

China’s Ren Ziwei after winning the men’s 1,500m final at the World Cup short-track speedskating championships in Germany in 2020. Photo: AP 

Wu Dajing of China celebrates after winning the men’s 500m final gold at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Photo: Reuters 

Su Yiming of China in the Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle event at the US Grand Prix in California. Photo: AFP 

Sui Wenjing and Han Cong of China at the ISU World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo, Japan in 2019. Photo: AFP 

China’s Geng Wenqiang in a training session before the men’s skeleton event of the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Olympic Sliding Centre. Photo: AFP 

Zhongyan Ning competes in the 1,500m at the ISU World Cup Speed Skating in Stavanger, Norway. Photo: Getty Images

2018 Pyeongchang Olympic Games bronze medallist Gao Tingyu of China after winning a gold medal in the men’s 500m speedskating event. Photo: AP 

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Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming is one of her country’s main medal hopes at the Beijing Winter Olympics. Photo: EPA-EFE

Audrey King (left) and Adrian Yung are two of the athletes representing Hong Kong in Beijing. Photo: Skiing Association of Hong Kong

Eileen Gu is hoping to inspire a new generation of winter athletes in China. Photo: AFP

The Post’s Winter Olympics coverage will be brought to you by our sports team (from left to right) Josh Ball, Mia Castagnone, Jack Lau, Jess Ma, Nazvi Careem, Harvey Kong, Andrew McNicol and Matthew Eaton. Photo: Jonathan Wong

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A member of staff stands on the platform at Zhangjiakou cluster train station inside the closed loop. Photo: Reuters

A security guard keeps watch at the boundary of the Covid-19 “bubble” near the main media centre for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Photo: Reuters

People queue for Covid-19 testing near to statues of Bing Dwen Dwen, the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic mascot and Shuey Rhon Rhon, the 2022 Beijing Winter Paralympic Games mascot, in Beijing. Photo: EPA-EFE

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Short-track speed skater Sidney Chu will represent Hong Kong at the Winter Olympics. Photo: Chan Kin-wa

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Sport

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Beijing Winter Games 2022

Ice Hockey


Intriguing mix of young and old will be on show in China now that NHL players are out of the competition
No 1 NHL draft pick Power will be the main man, but there are four other stars – including one from China – you should keep an eye on



No 1 NHL draft pick Owner Power will be the main man, but there are four other stars – including one from China – you should keep an eye on


Winter Olympics: 5 players to watch in men’s ice hockey at Beijing 2022, led by Owen Power and Matty Beniers

Intriguing mix of young and old will be on show in China now that NHL players are out of the competition No 1 NHL draft pick Power will be the main man, but there are four other stars – including one from China – you should keep an eye on

Intriguing mix of young and old will be on show in China now that NHL players are out of the competition

No 1 NHL draft pick Power will be the main man, but there are four other stars – including one from China – you should keep an eye on