TBirds Jones, Slavin Selected to Team USA Olympic Roster

Colorado Thunderbird alumni Jaccob Slavin (’94) and Seth Jones (‘94) have been selected to the Team USA Olympic Roster! The two veteran defensemen will travel with their country to Milan-Cortina in Italy for the men’s tournament slated to take place February 11-22, 2026. Both Slavin and Jones have a lengthy and decorated history representing the red, white and blue at international events.

tbirds seth jones and jaccob slavin have been selected for the team usa olympic hockey roster

Jaccob Slavin – Team USA Defenseman

Slavin last played for the Thunderbirds in 2011 as part of our 18U program. Jaccob signed an 8-year, $51.2M deal in the 2024 offseason to extend his time in Carolina where he was drafted 120th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Jaccob last represented Team USA at the 2025 4-Nations Faceoff. His career totals in red, white and blue at the men’s national level are 0-0-0 with a +3 rating in four games, and he also recorded 1-1-2 in 5GP at the World Junior Championships in 2014.

Jaccob’s Hurricanes are 24-13-3, holding first place in the Metropolitan division as he returns from injury.

Seth Jones – Team USA Defenseman

Seth Jones last represented the Thunderbirds as a 13 year-old player in 2007, serving as captain for Kent Murphy’s 14U team. Selected in the 2013 entry draft by the Nashville Predators at 4th overall, Jones became a First-Team NHL All-Star with Columbus in 2018 before signing a long-term deal in 2021 with the Blackhawks. Seth was moved at the 2025 trade deadline to the Florida Panthers, where he collected 4-5-9 in 23 playoff games en route to his first career Stanley Cup Championship, the second consecutive for Florida.

Jones has represented Team USA numerous times in his career, beginning at the USNTDP level and moving with the program through Hlinka-Gretzky, World Juniors and culminating in a captaincy at the 2022 World Championships. Jones and his Team USA teammates have earned 3 gold medals, one silver and one bronze spanning his 8 international tournament appearances.

Seth currently leads all Panthers blueliner with 6-18-24 in 38. games played for the defending cup champs.