When Team USA hits the ice Thursday afternoon to open their 2026 Olympic campaign against Latvia, you can count on Derek Stepan tuning in with the enthusiasm of a die-hard fan who’s been there before. The former New York Rangers center isn’t just watching from the couch-he’s emotionally invested in this team’s push for gold, and for good reason.
Stepan was part of the last U.S. Olympic team to feature NHL players, back in Sochi in 2014. That tournament left a lasting impression on him, both for what happened on the ice and what it meant to wear the red, white, and blue at the highest level of international hockey.
“I think it’s going to be great hockey,” Stepan said on the RINK RAP podcast. “I’m obviously very biased about who I want to win.
But I’m like a super-fan. I’m super excited.”
And he should be. This year’s U.S. squad has plenty of firepower and a strong Rangers connection, which only adds to Stepan’s excitement.
The roster includes forwards J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, while behind the bench, it’s Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan leading the charge, with assistant David Quinn by his side.
Even Rangers GM Chris Drury is involved, bringing his Olympic experience as a player to the team’s management group.
Back in 2014, Stepan was just 23 and in his fourth season with the Rangers. He joined fellow Blueshirts Ryan Callahan and Ryan McDonagh on the U.S. roster, alongside future Rangers like Jonathan Quick, Patrick Kane, and Kevin Shattenkirk.
That team had a strong start in Sochi, winning all three preliminary games-including a dramatic 3-2 shootout win over Russia, where T.J. Oshie became an instant American hero with his clutch performance in the eighth round.
After a quarterfinal win, Team USA ran into a Canadian buzzsaw in the semis, falling 1-0. The Bronze Medal Game didn’t go any better, with Finland blanking the Americans 5-0. The U.S. finished fourth, just shy of the podium.
Stepan only dressed for one game in Sochi, logging just under five minutes of ice time in a 5-1 win over Slovenia. But if you think he’s bitter about the limited role, think again.
“It was super fun,” he said. “I was young-ish, I should say, I wasn’t young-young.
But to be a part of that team, great group of guys. I was grateful.
I got to play in a game, wear the sweater, and it was a really special moment in my career.”
And the memories weren’t limited to the rink. Stepan and his family brought home something more than just Olympic gear-a dog they adopted during the Games.
“It was awesome. And we came home with one of the dogs, too,” Stepan shared.
“He’s 13, 14 now. We got Jake when he was six months old or something.
Yeah, what a great story for our family.”
The NHL’s return to the Olympics this year adds another layer of excitement for fans and players alike. After sitting out the 2018 and 2022 Games, the league’s best are back on the international stage. For players like Stepan, who didn’t get another shot at Olympic glory, that makes this moment even more special.
He hopes the current group takes the time to soak it all in-both the competition and the once-in-a-lifetime experience that comes with being part of the Olympic village.
“When I wasn’t in the lineup, I got to experience the Olympics day to day,” Stepan said. “I’ve got nothing but great stories and great things that came along with it, but they’re great stories that come from just being a fan.
That’s cool to me. It was super fun.”
As the puck drops in Milan, Team USA has its eyes on gold-and a former Olympian in Stepan will be watching every shift, every goal, and every moment, hoping this year’s squad can finish what his group started over a decade ago.