Fansided

5 USA hockey players who will be your new favorite after Olympics

By Adam Stocker

PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 24: Ryan Donato
PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 24: Ryan Donato /
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ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – JANUARY 13, 2018: Bobrov Division’s goalie Ryan Zapolski seen during the Master Show skills competition between the teams representing the Kontinental Hockey League’s four divisions at Barys Arena, as part of the 2018 Week of Hockey Stars in Astana. Sergei Bobylev/TASS (Photo by Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images)
ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN – JANUARY 13, 2018: Bobrov Division’s goalie Ryan Zapolski seen during the Master Show skills competition between the teams representing the Kontinental Hockey League’s four divisions at Barys Arena, as part of the 2018 Week of Hockey Stars in Astana. Sergei Bobylev/TASS (Photo by Sergei Bobylev\TASS via Getty Images) /

4. David Leggio or Brandon Maxwell

No position on a hockey team can play a bigger outcome in a team’s success than the goalie. A great goalie can carry an average team to greatness while a bad goalie can ruin the season of a team loaded with talent. The three goalies named to the Olympic team were David Leggio, Brandon Maxwell, and Ryan Zapolski. While head coach Tony Granato has not named a starting goalie yet, one of Leggio, Maxell, or Zapolski will start in Pyeongchang.

David Leggio was born in Williamsville, New York and played his college career at Clarkson University before turning pro in the 2007-08 season. For seven of the next eight seasons, Leggio played in the AHL but never could earn an NHL call-up. Leggio’s best season was in 2012-13, when he played 64 games, winning 38 games, posting a .924 save percentage and 2.56 goals against average.

In 2015, Leggio made the decision to continue his career in Europe, signing with Munich. In 70 games in the German league, the 33-year-old Leggio has won 44 games and 2.33 GAA and .907 save percentage.

Brandon Maxwell is the only goalie on the United States roster to be drafted by an NHL team, however, outside of one ECHL game he has spent his professional career in Europe. After being drafted in the sixth round by the Colorado Avalanche, Maxwell played one season at the University of Guelph before signing in Sweden.

Over the past four seasons, the 26-year-old Maxwell has played for three different teams in the Czech Republic. Over the past two seasons with Mlada Boleslav BK, Maxwell has appeared in 51 games, winning only 22 but posted .920 save percentage and 2.28 GAA.

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