Former East Palestine resident and current New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller earned a Team USA roster spot for the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics on Friday. (AP Photo)

Former East Palestine resident and current New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller was selected to play in his first Winter Olympics on Friday as part of the United States’ mens national hockey team.

Miller last represented the United States on the 2025 Four Nations Face-Off team which finished as a runner-up behind Canada in a very hotly contested series played in Montreal and Boston.

In that tournament, Miller played in all four games and it was his first action as a representative of the USA since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey where he played in one game.

Miller is no stranger to having success at the international level. In 2010 he earned a gold medal in the U17 World Hockey Challenge. He followed that up with a U18 World Championship in 2011 and a World Junior Championship in 2013.

Miller, 32, has played in 35 games for the Rangers this season with 10 goals and 12 assists. He has a plus-minus rating of -11. Miller been on injured reserve since Dec. 22 for an upper body injury and is expected to be back in mid January.

Miller was originally drafted by the Rangers in 2012 and remained there until he was shipped to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2018. In 2019 he started a six season swing with the Vancouver Canucks before coming back to the Rangers in January 2025.

Miller has played in 906 NHL games and has 270 goals and 461 assists.

The Olympic men’s hockey competition begins on Feb. 11 in Milan. The USA will open with Latvia on Feb. 12. Germany and Denmark are also in Group C with the USA.

4 Nations group reunites

Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the U.S. win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup run.

Those contributions earned them a spot on the U.S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.

USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime.

“I liked the way we played: Everybody was together, everybody played the right way,” general manager Bill Guerin said on a video call with reporters. “The biggest thing for me was the chemistry, and I think the chemistry allowed the guys to play the way that they did.”

The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers teammate Adam Fox, the 2021 Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman. Guerin took issue with the perception that Fox was left off because of his role in Connor McDavid’s OT goal 11 months ago.

“If you think we made a decision on one play, then you must not think we’re very smart,” Guerin said. “I’m going to keep those conversations private. Our decision was made, and we’re moving forward.”

Keller, who’s captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C” at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.

“He’s 6-foot-6 and can skate like the wind,” Guerin said. “He’s got an incredible shot, scoring ability — he’s got versatility, as well. He can play center, play wing, kill penalties, he’s on the power play. The versatility, size and skill level are a pretty unique package.”

The U.S. followed Canada’s lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: reigning league MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.

Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who’s leads U.S. players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat, who are each 5-foot-8. Asked about size as a factor in decision-making, Guerin said it was a bonus, adding, “It doesn’t help if you’re big and you stink.”

“We actually have to build a team,” Guerin said. “We have to fill roles. We have certain responsibilities that go up and down the lineup that we need players that are elite in those categories.”

Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.

Jones was a notable exception, after his shutdown prowess was evident in the playoffs last year.

“He’s a big strong kid that skates extremely well,” Sullivan said. “He has the ability to play on both side of the puck.”

Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters — typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies.