From San Jose to Pyeongchang?
Goalie working with Barracuda finds out today
SAN JOSE >> Goalie Parker Gahagen will find out Monday whether the work he’s put in as a member of the San Jose Barracuda over the last several weeks will result in a spot on the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team.
Either way, he’s tried to make the most of his unique opportunity.
As part of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program thanks to some help from USA Hockey, Gahagen, a second lieutenant and a native of Amherst, N.Y., was allowed to train for a potential spot in the Olympics as he maintains a military career.
The 24-year-old is the first team-sport athlete to be given the status, as he’s played and practiced with the Barracuda while still an amateur.
USA Hockey will announce its men’s and women’s rosters for the Winter Olympics in South Korea during the second intermission of the NHL’s Winter Classic in New York between the Buffalo Sabres and the New York Rangers. Three goalies will be picked, and Gahagen’s name is in the conversation.
“As far as where I am on the list? I’m sure that’s confidential,” Gahagen joked.
Gahagen met with U.S. coach Tony Granato, a former Shark, about two weeks, and he “basically said I was in the mix and ultimately it was going to come down to film and (seeing) those games I’ve played here so far. So that’s definitely going to help my cause.”
In his first three appearances with the Barracuda, the Sharks’ AHL affiliate, Gahagen went 1-1 with a 3.18 goals-against average. Against Tucson on Dec. 13, he stopped 19 of 21 shots in the Barracuda’s 5-2 victory.
“We kind of knew what we were getting, and he’s been more than impressive,” said Evgeni Nabokov, the goalie development coach for the Sharks’ organization.
“He’s been such a pro already. I guess the Army teaches you that, right?”
Gahagen, who grew up in Buffalo, is hardly a slam dunk to make the Olympic team, but he might have already beaten the odds to get to this point.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially announced in April that the league would not participate in the Pyeongchang Olympics. Sharks such as Brent Burns, Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Joe Pavelski, or any player on an NHL contract, would not to be allowed to go. Parker Gahagen is a second lieutenant in the Army, and was given special status by the military so he can pursue the 2018 Olympics.
That opened the door for Americans playing professionally in Europe, NCAA players, players on AHL contracts or even those in junior hockey to be eligible. Gahagen was then put on USA Hockey’s long list of potential team members.
“Just funny how everything’s worked out,” Gahagen said. “I’ve been relying on my faith, thinking God has something to do with this. There’s no way all this happens out of the blue.”
In four years with the Army Black Knights. Gahagen had a 40-49-16 record with a 2.60 GAA and a .926 save percentage. His best year was his senior year in 2016-17, when he went 1713-4 with five shutouts, a 2.00 GAA, a .934 save percentage.
A West Point graduate, Gahagen was invited to the Sharks’ development camp in July. He officially signed an amateur tryout contract in mid-November, and he and his wife, Kaitlyn, have been living in San Jose ever since.
If Gahagen is not picked, he’ll stay with the Barracuda at least until the end of January. He still owes roughly a year and eight months of service to the military but is hoping a compromise can be reached in which he can complete his service but still pursue his dream of playing in the NHL.
If Gahagen is picked to be a part of the Olympic team, he’ll still remain with the Barracuda for a few weeks. But toward the end of January, it won’t just be the San Diego Gulls or the San Antonio Rampage he’ll have to think about.
He’ll also be thinking about Slovenia, the team the Americans open the Olympic tournament against on Feb. 14 after only a few practices together.
“It’s definitely going to be a little different,” Gahagen said. “Guys might not have played with each other directly, but as long as everyone is there for the right reason, I think everyone will be able to come together and be able to get it done.”