Winter Olympics 2018: 22 Minnesota Athletes To Watch

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — From curling to ice hockey, Minnesotans will have plenty of local athletes to cheer on as the 2018 Olympic Winter Games kick off in Pyeongchang, South Korea this month. Minnesota boasts the third-highest number of hometown athletes in the country.

For the 2018 Winter Olympics event schedule, scroll down below.

They'll be among the 2,800 athletes from more than 85 countries participating in 15 different sports during the games starting Feb. 9.

The opening ceremony, in which North and South Korea will march under a unified flag marking a major diplomatic success for the two countries, takes place Feb. 9. The opening ceremony and the games will be broadcast on NBC. The games take place over a two-week period with the closing ceremony being held on Feb. 25.

Event Results: Stillwater Graduate Jessie Diggins Has Historic Finish In Women's Skiathlon

The U.S. Olympic team is comprised of 242 athletes, with 135 men and 107 women. Athletes will be competing in alpine skiing, biathlon, bobsled, cross-country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skiing, ice hockey, luge, Nordic combined, skeleton, ski jumping, snowboarding, long track speed skating and short track speed skating.

The Olympic Games run for 18 days and conclude with closing ceremonies on Feb. 25. It’s cold in Pyeongchang, and the forecast calls for 14-degree Fahrenheit temperatures for the opening ceremony on Friday.

The 21 athletes from Minnesota representing the United States in Pyeongchang are:

Ice Hockey

Will Borgen, Moorhead

From Moorhead, Borgen attends St. Cloud State University. He was named to the 2016 NCHC All-Rookie Team in his first season, where he tallied a total of 43 blocked shots. During the 2015 NHL Draft, Borgen was selected in the fourth round by the Buffalo Sabres and in 2016, won bronze in the IIHF World Junior Championships. This will be his first time competing in the Winter Olympics.

Hannah Brandt, Vadnais Heights

Brandt is a 24-year-old graduate of the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she helped the team make it to three NCAA national championships. Continuing that success, she also participated in the World Championship multiple times, ultimately winning two gold medals and one silver. This will be her first time competing in the Winter Games.

Marissa Brandt, Vadnais Heights, Women’s Ice Hockey

A product of Gustavus Adolphus’ Collegiate Division III hockey program, Brandt will be playing defense in the upcoming 2018 Winter Olympics for the united North/South Korea Women’s Ice Hockey team. A native of Vadnais Heights, Brandt will be playing under her Korean name, Yoonjung Park. Her sister, Hannah Brandt, will be playing for the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team. This will be Marissa’s first Olympic experience.

Lee Stecklein, Roseville

A recent graduate from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, this will be the 23-year-old’s first time in the Olympics. Stecklein has competed in four Four Nations Cups, four Women’s World Championships, and helped the University of Minnesota team make it to three national championships. In 2014, Stecklein represented the U.S. in the Sochi Winter Olympic Games, earning a silver medal.

Ryan Stoa, Bloomington

Currently a member of the Spartak Moscow (KHL) club, Stoa is from Bloomington and began his hockey career as a player for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where he was team captain his senior year. In 2010, Stoa tied for the highest scoring rookie in the American Hockey League with 23 goals. This will be his first time representing the United States at the Winter Olympics

Maddie Rooney, Andover

The youngest Minnesotan member of Team USA, 20-year-old Rooney attends the University of Minnesota – Duluth and is a goalie for the U.S. Women’s National Team. In 2017, she competed in the Four Nations Cup and the World Championship Experience, winning gold for both. Rooney attended Andover High School. This will be her first Olympic experience

Gigi Marvin, Warroad

Currently in her second season as a player for the Boston Pride, Marvin is a two-time Olympic medalist. Before going professional, Marvin played for her high school hockey team in Warroad, earning all-conference honors in each of her four years. She then went on to complete four seasons with the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, where she made school history by placing sixth overall with 195 points in 152 totaled games. She has actively medaled in various events, including seven World Championship Experiences and eight Four Nations Cups.

Sidney Morin, Minnetonka

As a current player for the University of Minnesota – Duluth Women’s Hockey Team, Morin will be making her Olympic debut in South Korea. Previous international competition experiences include the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship, where she earned silver. Morin also competed on the 2012 U.S. Under-18 Women’s Select Team. Morin is from Minnetonka, and is a graduate of Minnetonka High School.

Kelly Pannek, Plymouth

From Plymouth, Pannek is a forward for the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities. Currently in her third season, she has helped the team make it to two Division I national championships. As a junior, Pannek led Division I Hockey with 62 points and 43 assists in 39 games. In 2017, Pannek played in the International Ice Hockey Federation U18 Women’s World Championship with her team, and helped win the U.S. its first gold world title on American soil.

Curling

Cory Christensen, Duluth

A Duluth native and University of Minnesota – Duluth alumnus, Christensen has extensive experience when it comes to curling. In 2012, she earned her first of four totaled U.S. Junior Champion titles. While the 2018 Winter Games will be Christensen’s first time participating in the Olympics, Christensen has competed internationally since 2012. During the 2017 World Championship, Christensen placed fifth.

Tyler George, Duluth

Training at the Duluth Curling Club, George is a member of the formidable Shuster Curling Team. Touting a mixture of national and international competitive experience, George is one of America’s finest curlers, with three U.S. National Championship titles and two runner-up finishes. The 2018 Winter Games will be his first Olympic experience.

Aileen Geving, Duluth

A product of the University of Minnesota – Duluth, Geving plays second position on the U.S. Olympic Curling Team. In addition to being a two-time Junior National Champion, Geving also has competed twice in the World Junior Championships and the World Women’s Championships.

John Landsteiner, Duluth

28-year-old Landsteiner is part of the men’s curling Team Shuster based in Duluth, where he previously competed and placed 9th in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. With an extensive professional curling background, some of Landsteiner’s accomplishments include winning the 2014 and 2016 Continental Cup, placing 4th in the 2017 World Men’s Championship, and being named 2014’s USA Curling Athlete of the Year. This will be Landsteiner’s second Olympic experience.

Tabitha Peterson, Eagan

Peterson plays vice skip for the curling Team Roth. A University of Minnesota – Twin Cities alumnus, Peterson’s accomplishments include victory in the 2013 and 2018 Continental Cup, recognition as a two-time U.S. junior national champion, and the 2016 World Mixed Doubles bronze medalist.

Joe Polo, Duluth

Currently one-fourth of the men’s curling Team Schuster, Polo hails from Duluth and attended both Bemidji State and the University of Minnesota – Duluth. In 2016, he won bronze in the World Mixed Doubles Championship. Polo is also a six-time U.S. men’s national champion, and was awarded bronze at his first Winter Olympic Games in 2006.

John Shuster, Chisholm

28-year-old Landsteiner is part of the men’s curling Team Shuster based in Duluth, where he previously competed and placed 9th in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. With an extensive professional curling background, some of Landsteiner’s accomplishments include winning the 2014 and 2016 Continental Cup, placing 4th in the 2017 World Men’s Championship, and being named 2014’s USA Curling Athlete of the Year. This will be Landsteiner’s second Olympic experience.

Cross-Country Skiing

Annie Hart, Stillwater

Hailing from Stillwater, Hart got her skiing start while attending St. Paul Academy and Summit School and training with the Minneapolis Ski Club. A Dartmouth College alumnus, she was as a five-time All-American athlete as a member of the school’s Ski Team. Hart is currently part of the Stratton Mountain School Elite Ski Team, and has competed in the 2013 and 2015 FIS U23 World Championships.

Jessie Diggins, Afton

At 26-years-old, Diggins is no stranger to the Olympic stage. In 2014, Diggins competed in the Sochi Winter Olympics as a member of the U.S. Women’s Nordic Ski Team, where she placed 8th in the skiathlon and 13th in the sprint freestyle. As part of the first-ever U.S. team to win a world cup team sprint event, Diggins also is the first cross-country skier to win a medal in the Tour de Ski world championship event.

Rosie Frankowski, Minneapolis

Currently, Frankowski is a professional cross country skier for Alaska Pacific University’s Team Elite based out of Anchorage, Alaska. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Frankowski first began skiing with the Southwest High School team, where she quickly progressed to represent the Central Division at Junior Nationals. In addition to skiing for Alaska Pacific University, Frankowski also has competed in the 2014 FIS U23 World Championship and has received three All-American honors.

Alpine Skiing

David Chodounsky, Saint Paul

Lindsey Vonn, Burnsville

Vonn is a four-time Olympian and two-time Olympian medalist in alpine skiing. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, she grew up in Burnsville, and learned how to ski for the first time at Buck Hill. When Vonn was a teenager, she moved with her family to Vail, Colorado. Vonn’s most recent experiences include the 2017 World Championship experience where she placed fifth overall. Other accomplishments include 76 World Cup victories, a 2010 Olympics downhill gold medal, and 5 World Championship medals.

Biathlon

Leif Nordgren, Marine

Nordgren is a graduate of Forest Lake High School and has been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2010. In 2017, Nordgren finished 7th in relay at the World Championship Experience in Hochfilzen, Austria. Having competed previously in the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, the 2018 Winter Games will be his second Olympic experience.

Check out the NBC Olympics schedule:

Thursday, Feb. 8
8 p.m.: Figure skating — team event

Friday, Feb. 9
6 a.m.: Opening ceremonies; this event was kept on South Korea's primetime viewing schedule.
8 p.m.: Taped coverage of opening ceremonies

Saturday, Feb. 10
5 a.m., short-track speedskating — men's 1,500 meters
7:10 a.m.: Women's hockey, Switzerland vs. Korea
8 p.m.: Snowboarding — men's slopestyle final
9 p.m.: Alpine skiing — men's downhill

Sunday, Feb. 11
4:50 a.m.: Luge — men's final uns
8 p.m.: Snowboarding — women's slopestyle
8:15 p.m.: Alpine skiing — women's giant slalom

Monday, Feb. 12
5:30 a.m.: Moguls — men's
7:30 a.m: Speedskating — women's 1,500 meters
7:50 a.m: Ski jumping — women's
8 p.m.: Snowboarding — women's halfpipe

Tuesday, Feb. 13
5 a.m.: Short-track speedskating — women's 500 meters
8:15 p.m.: Alpine skiing — women's slalom
8:30 p.m.: Snowboarding — men's halfpipe

Wednesday, Feb. 14
1 a.m.: Nordic combined — individual, normal hill
6:20 a.m.: Luge — doubles
5 a.m.: Speedskating — women's 1,000 meters
8:30 p.m.: Figure skating — pairs free skate

Thursday, Feb. 15
1:30 a.m.: Cross-country skiing — women's spring, freestyle
6 a.m.: Biathlon — men's 20K individual race
7:10 a.m.: Men's hockey, Czech Republic vs. South Korea
7:30 p.m.: Skeleton — men's
8 p.m: Figure skating — men's short program
8 p.m.: Snowboarding — women's snowboard cross

Friday, Feb. 16
6 a.m.: Freestyle skiing — women's aerials
8 p.m.: Figure skating — men's long programs
8 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — women's slopestyle
9 p.m.: Alpine skiing — women's Super-G

Saturday, Feb. 17
7:10 a.m.: Men's hockey — United States vs. Russia
8 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — men's slopestyle
8:15 p.m.: Alpine skiing — men's giant slalom

Sunday, Feb. 18
8 p.m.: Figure skating — ice dance, short dance

Monday, Feb. 19
8 p.m.: Figure skating — ice dance, free dance
8:30 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — women's halfpipe

Tuesday, Feb. 20
8 p.m.: Figure skating — women's short program
9 pm.: Alpine skiing — women's downhill

Wednesday, Feb. 21
6:40 a.m.: Bobsled — women's final runs
9:30 p.m.: Freestyle skiing — men's halfpipe
11:10 p.m.: Women's hockey — gold medal game

Thursday, Feb. 22
7:30 p.m.: Snowboarding — women's big air final
8 p.m.: Figure skating — women's long program

Friday, Feb. 23
5 a.m.: Speedskating — men's 1,000 meters

Saturday, Feb. 25
Midnight: Cross-country skiing — men's 50K mass start
6 a.m.: Speedskating — men's and women's mass start
7:05 p.m.: Curling — women's gold medal match
7:30 p.m.: Bobsled — four-man final runs
11:10 p.m.: Men's hockey — gold medal game

Sunday, Feb. 25
6 a.m.: Closing ceremony
8 p.m.: Taped coverage of closing ceremony

Also read:

• Stillwater Graduate Wins Skiing World Cup Ahead Of Olympics
  
• Eagan's Tabitha Peterson Curls Her Way To The Winter Games

Photo credit: Silver medalist Jessica Diggins of the U.S., left, gold medalist Sweden's Charlotte Kalla, center, and bronze medalist Caitlin Gregg of the U.S., right, pose during the medal ceremony after the women's 10 km cross-country at the 2015 FIS Nordic Skiing World Championships in Falun, Sweden, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (AP Photo/TT, Anders Wiklund)