Nhlers can only dream of S. Korea
The very reason Dominic Toninato refused to sign with Toronto is why the Minnesota native is not eligible to play for Team USA at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. The Leafs offered Toninato only an American Hockey League contract last summer, so he chose to play the “college card” and become an unrestricted free agent Aug. 16.
Toninato, a four-year Minnesota Duluth standout who served as team captain last season as a senior, eventually signed his NHL entry-level contract with the Avalanche, a move that eliminated his Olympic eligibility. At the time, Toninato wasn’t thinking ahead to the Olympics. He was all about playing in the NHL.
“Didn’t even cross my mind,” he said of the Olympics. “I’m happy with the situation I’m in. I couldn’t ask to be on a better team, and I’m very happy with the opportunity I’ve been given. I like where I’m at.”
For the first time since 1994, active NHL players aren’t participating in the Winter Olympics. Only European professionals and those on North American minor-league contracts, as well as amateurs such as University of Denver junior Troy Terry of Highlands Ranch, are eligible. Toninato, who opposed Terry and the Pioneers in the 2017 NCAA championship game in Chicago, turned down that opportunity, although there was no guarantee he would have been selected by USA Hockey.
“It’s definitely a dream of mine to play in the Olympics. I think that’s any kid’s dream,” said Toninato, 23. “It’s the world’s stage … but I guess I didn’t even think about it last summer. Definitely would have been an incredible experience. But we’re here now. We’ll just have to watch it and enjoy it from here.”
Toninato could have been like
Chris Bourque, the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. Chris Bourque, 32, is with Team USA in Pyeongchang as the leading scorer of the AHL’S Hershey Bears. Bourque is on an Ahl-only deal — same as Stockton Heat’s Cody Goloubef, the former Avalanche defenseman who is playing for Team Canada.
Canada has four other former Avs on its Olympic team: forwards Wojtek Wolski (playing the Russian-based Kontinental Hockey League) and Rene Bourque (Sweden) and defensemen Stefan Elliott (Sweden) and Karl Stollery (KHL). In addition, defenseman Maxim Noreau (Swiss league) was on an NHL/AHL contract with the Avs in 2015-16.
The Olympic rosters for all the gold medal-worthy teams are filled with former NHL players who are past their prime or never managed to stick in the world’s best league. But for three weeks in Pyeongchang, the NHL rejects and amateurs will be hockey’s most envious players.
Avalanche captain Gabe Landeskog, a 2014 silver medalist for Sweden, certainly wishes he could be playing in Pyeongchang.
“It’s disappointing. And it’s frustrating,” Landeskog said. “Any hockey player wants to play for their country, and as far as playing for your country, the Olympics is the biggest thing you can do. It’s disappointing, but our focus is on the season that we have over here, and I’ll make sure I’ll support the Swedish troops from here.”