Admirals’ Butler will fill any role
GANGNEUNG, South Korea – Bobby Butler isn’t picky about his role on the U.S. Olympic hockey team. Whatever coach Tony Granato wants him to do, he’ll do it. No questions asked.
“Just bring energy and whatever they need me for, be ready,” he said. “Whatever it may be. Kill penalties. Whatever. I’m ready to go.”
Butler, 30, the Milwaukee Admirals forward and first-time Olympian, is still pinching himself that he’s in South Korea.
“Long ways away from home, right?” he said with a grin, as Team USA held its second practice at the Gangneung Hockey Center on Saturday.
Butler said he knew every teammate by reputation and played with or against many on an odyssey that took him from the University of New Hampshire to a long and winding road as a pro: he’s played in the NHL and in the Kontinental Hockey League, with MODO Hockey in Sweden and with seven AHL teams.
Team USA opens the Olympic tournament against Slovenia on Wednesday. There’s not much time to prepare, but every team faces the same challenges.
Canada won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and repeated in Sochi four years later, but for the first time since 1956 no player on Team Canada’s roster has Olympic experience. That’s in large part because the NHL did not allow its players to compete in the Pyeongchang Games.
“Everyone’s in the same boat,” Butler said. “I think we’re ready to go. We’re excited. We’ll play hard and fast. I think we’re hungry and we’re focused on one practice at a time and we’ll go
from there.”
In the meantime, he is soaking in the Olympic experience. He marched with his teammates in the opening ceremony and is stoked about staying in the Athletes’ Village.
“It’s awesome to see people from other countries and other sports,” he said. “It’s part of the Olympic experience so it’s definitely awesome. It feels like you’re in the college dorms again, which is cool, just hanging out with some of your teammates.”
Though he’s away from the Admirals for two more weeks and possibly longer, if the Americans wind up playing for a medal, Butler said he was following the team from afar. He refreshed the Internet on his phone “all morning” Saturday as the Admirals played at Rockford (Pyeongchang is 15
hours ahead).
“I know they won (5-3) last night, so it was a big win,” he said. “That’s two in a row so hopefully they keep it going until I get back. I talked to a couple of the guys. It’s good.”
He said he’s gotten “unbelievable” support from back home.
“It’s the best,” he said. “The Admirals went over and above, so I’m very thankful for the Ads and Milwaukee and Nashville to allow me to come back and play and have this opportunity. I’m very thankful. They did a great sendoff for me.”
The older of Butler’s two sons is just 3 but he’s already learned the chant “Go USA!”
“I don’t think he knows what he’s saying,” Butler said.
Nonetheless, it’s music to his ears.