Five Former Sabres Compete in 2022 Winter Olympics

FARIBAULT, MINN. - This week, athletes from all over the world will come together to compete at the highest level at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. And though the events are miles and miles away from Faribault, Shattuck-St. Mary’s will have five former Sabres competing in this year’s games. 

Brianna Decker ’09, Amanda Kessel ’10, Blayre Turnbull ’11, Brendan Brisson ’19, and Drew Helleson will be representing their respective countries in ice hockey, which begins on Thursday, Feb. 3. 

Decker, Kessel, and Turnbull return to the Olympics as seasoned veterans in women’s ice hockey. In their third Olympic games, Decker and Kessel will look to defend Team USA’s gold medal from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. And looking to win her first gold medal will be Turnball, who will be representing Team Canada in her second Olympic games. 

Brisson and Helleson will be making their Olympic debuts in men’s ice hockey as they represent Team USA, who will look to medal for the first time since 2010. Both Brisson and Helleson currently play Division I hockey for the University of Michigan and Boston College respectively.

“It’s amazing to think that this group of Olympians were all once SSM students walking the same halls, studying in the same dorms, and training in the same facilities that our current students do,” stated SSM Athletic Director, Michele Cornish. “Olympians are obviously exceptional because of the hard work and sacrifice that they endure to reach their goals. This work ethic certainly provides inspiration and motivation for our current student-athletes to push for that next level within themselves.”

The opening ceremonies begin on Friday, Feb. 4. The full ice hockey schedule can be found here.