Brock Nelson looking to join family’s long line of Olympic hockey…
MILAN — As of Wednesday night, Brock Nelson still had some fairly important homework to do.
His uncle, Dave Christian — a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Miracle on Ice team — was on his manner to Milan to watch his nephew in the Olympics.
Nelson still hadn’t watched the new Netflix documentary memorializing the team, during which Christian performed a outstanding function.
“It’s on my to-do list today,” Nelson told The Post after Team USA practiced. “I’ve heard really good things. I’ve heard it’s pretty emotional and cool. I had my kids at home, we were trying to watch it during the day. It was a little hectic so I turned it off. I’m gonna watch it tonight before the games get going.”
The film apart, Nelson, an Islander until last season, is under no circumstances nonchalant about his household historical past.
When he takes the ice against Latvia on Thursday, he’ll turn into the fourth member of his household to characterize the U.S. hockey team in the Olympic Games.
His grandfather, Bill Christian, and great-uncle, Roger Christian, gained gold in Squaw Valley in 1960.
Dave Christian was half of the most well-known victory in American sports activities historical past, successful gold in Lake Placid.
Nelson, a first-time Olympian at 34, is aware of precisely what it means to put on these colours.
Making the 4 Nations Face-Off team a yr in the past was as big an achievement as he’s ever had.
Former Islander Brock Nelson, now a member of the Avalanche, skates during a Team USA follow on Feb. 9, 2026. Getty Images
The magnitude of making the Olympics still hasn’t sunk in yet. Not all the manner, even a few days into being right here in Italy.
“I feel like it’s a little bit every day, something different,” Nelson said. “Even going to the women’s game, we went to the USA-Canada game [Tuesday night]. To see that atmosphere was pretty electric. Seeing all the guys here, seeing the setup, all the gear you get, the other athletes in the village — just being able to say you’re staying in the village is pretty awesome. Just trying to take it all in. There’s so many aspects of it that make it so special.”
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
He still talks to his grandpa, Bill, age 88, on a near-daily foundation.
“Super emotional,” Nelson said of the telephone name between them after he was named to Team USA. “I might hear just how joyful he was. Tears of pleasure. It meant rather a lot to him and I. It’s tremendous particular I get to share that dialog.
Dave Christian, Brock Nelson’s uncle, was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Miracle on Ice team. Getty Images
“The memories I have with him are just him back home skating when I was a little kid, calling him grandpa. Always taking care of us and being there for us. Always to this day. So I’m super fortunate to have him.”
Nelson’s scoring has always are available in bunches, and he bought red-hot last month, scoring 12 instances with 18 complete factors in 14 games.
After a slow start to the yr with the Avalanche, he had 29 targets at the NHL’s Olympic break, with a career-high 40 in sight.
His function at the Olympics, though, shall be related to what he did last yr at 4 Nations.
Nelson has skated on the fourth line in practices with Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Jack Hughes all with him at numerous factors.
(Thirteen forwards can costume in the Olympics, so it’s potential that three out of those 4 will make up a line at any point Thursday).
“I feel good about my game,” Nelson said. “Trying to take it day by day. Going in with the same mindset that every game’s gonna be a little bit different and trying to navigate the challenge. Obviously we have the same structure, same kind of routine to prep yourself and then go into it with an open mind and intention of what you want to accomplish here.”
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