TAMPA, Fla. — With NHL players not going to the Olympics for the first time since 1994, the Deutschland Cup next month in Augsburg, Germany, has suddenly become an intriguing event. It’s essentially a tryout for the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete in the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang County, South Korea.
When he took a look at the roster, 37-year-old Upper St. Clair native Ryan Malone, who’s attempting an improbable NHL comeback, didn’t have to dig too deep to see a few names he recognized. Its 29 players — Malone is on there — have a distinctly Pittsburgh feel, some from here, others who’ve played here.