Brooks Orpik Named to US Men's Olympic Team

Boston College alum and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik was named to the 2014 US men's Olympic hockey team on Wednesday, as the US prepares for the upcoming Olympics. Earlier in the day, Eagles Kelli Stack, Alex Carpenter and Molly Schaus were named to the women's Olympic team.

This will be Brooks Orpik's second trip to the Olympic Games, having played on the US's silver-medal winning team in 2010. Orpik was a member of BC"s 2001 National Championship team and won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Adding a gold medal to his resume would be a pretty neat triple crown for the native of Amherst, N.Y.

Orpik faces some stiff competition for playing time as the seven other defensemen selected to the team probably all offer more in the way of speed and puck-moving ability - but Orpik's physical, stay-at-home style could provide a contrast and an element missing from the rest of the squad.

Here's the full roster, from NBCSports.com:

Forwards (14): David Backes, Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan,Patrick Kane, Ryan Kesler, Phil Kessel, T.J. Oshie, Max Pacioretty,Zach Parise, Joe Pavelski, Paul Stastny, Derek Stepan, James van Riemsdyk, Blake Wheeler

Defensemen (8): John Carlson, Justin Faulk, Cam Fowler, Paul Martin, Ryan McDonagh, Brooks Orpik, Kevin Shattenkirk, Ryan Suter

Goalies (3): Jimmy Howard, Ryan Miller, Jonathan Quick