United States’ Matt Boldy looks to the puck as United States’ goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman defends during men’s ice hockey practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

MILAN — Last year at this time, Anchorage’s Jeremy Swayman and his Boston Bruins were in the midst of a brutal season.

It ended with the team dead last in the Atlantic division, and Swayman enduring a 22-29-7 record, with career-lows in save percentage and goals-against average. And that came right after he signed one of the richest contracts ever for a goalie at eight years for $66 million, so expectations had been sky-high.

In short, it was about to be a very long, depressing offseason.

And then the phone call came from USA Hockey.

He was invited to be part of Team USA at the World Championship in Stockholm. The annual tournament each May has rosters pulled together from teams that missed the playoffs or had a quick first-round exit. Despite the other top hockey nations also having to construct their teams the same ad-hoc way, they’d all been able to chalk up regular or at least occasional titles. But the Americans simply could never win it. Their last world title had come in 1933.

Swayman saw an enticing opportunity to be part of a team doing something historic if they could win gold, and along the way, he’d get a terrible season out of his system and end the year on a high note.

In the end, not only did the team win the championship, but he was the reason why — going a perfect 7-0 with two shutouts, and posting a 1.69 goals against average and .921 save percentage.

It turned out to be the perfect springboard to a solid bounce-back season — for him personally and for the team.

And, he said, it has been the catalyst for realizing the lifelong dream of competing in the Olympics.

“I don’t think I would be here without that, and I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” explained Swayman, after coming off the ice Sunday following Team USA’s first practice at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. “Just getting the nod after a pretty tough year for myself and the Bruins. USA Hockey still believed in me. To go for a gold medal for USA, which hasn’t been done in 93 years, that was a really extreme motivator.

“That tournament, the guys, the coaching staff, really changed my world. It motivated me the entire summer. I got right on the ice when I got home, and I just wanted to take that confidence, that high, right into the season. And I think it’s been a really big booster for me. Obviously, I want to continue that here at the Olympics.”

The big question now is how much playing time he will get, with two other exceptional goalies on the roster in Connor Hellebuyck of the Winnipeg Jets and Jake Oettinger, who plays on the Dallas Stars.

Members of the United States men’s ice hockey team including Brady Tkachuk, third from right, Jack Hughes, second from right, and United States’ goalkeeper Jeremy Swayman, right, gather around the net during men’s ice hockey practice at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

When asked if he will play, Swayman was not about to divulge anything.

“We all want that net,” said the 6-foot-3-inch, 195-pounder, who grew up playing youth hockey in Anchorage and played two seasons at South High before heading out of state for junior hockey. “It’s really an incredible formula for us. We have such incredible talent on this team, and everyone is here to do a job, and that’s the mindset with us three goalies, is to take over that net and help our team win games.”

What he did share is that he and Oettinger are roommates in the Olympic village.

“Him and I have really been bonding, we’ve been playing a ton of cribbage, and sharing our meals on our beds. It’s pretty funny,” said Swayman, who also represented Team USA at the 2018 World Junior Championship, and the World Championship in 2022. “The rooms are right out of college, so it’s been a really fun experience being back in the college feel.”

He added that bonding with everyone else on the squad is about to ramp up.

“During the season these guys are all tough to play against,” he said. “I think it’s a mutual respect amongst all of us in that room, and as soon as we get in there, in this locker room, we know we have a common goal in mind. It’s our job to come together on day one and make sure that we’re all pulling for the same thing, which is a gold medal. Now the boys are all here. This is the first day everyone’s gotten here, so I’m sure we’re gonna have a ton of meals together, just hanging out in the lounge and really getting the bond away from families and making this a special one.”

Even before he stepped foot in the arena, the Olympics have already been a special experience for Swayman, who arrived in time to be part of the opening ceremony on Friday night.

“Walking in that open ceremony has meant the world to me. There’s really no feeling that comes close to it,” said the former University of Maine star, who said he would dream of being an Olympian going back to his days growing up attending UAA hockey games with his father, Ken.

“Just wearing the red, white, and blue at the global stage. It’s such an honor to be American. Those who fought for our freedom, it’s honoring them, so I’m so grateful to be American. I’m so proud to be American.”

He’s also carrying enormous pride in representing Alaska and Anchorage.

“I think it’s an enriched experience because I’m from Alaska, and Anchorage is such a remote town, such a hockey town,” he said. “I owe it to all of them, and the coaches there, obviously my family, everyone that I had in Alaska supporting me, day in and day out.

“Without Alaska and Alaska hockey, I wouldn’t have the chip on my shoulder as I do, and we’re just bred different up there, and to be representing them in the NHL, and now the global stage is such an honor, and I really want to carry that with extreme gratitude,” he added, noting that he’s excited to have his immediate family on hand in Milan to watch him in person.

“I’m just flowing with gratitude. They’ve been there since the start, especially my dad, and we dreamt of this as a kid, being an Olympian. That’s a pretty big pipe dream for an Alaskan kid, but here we are, and that’s gonna be a special moment to share when I see him here, and he sees us playing. We definitely don’t take that lightly, us Swaymans.”

The 27-year-old, who also has his fiancée Alessandra watching him in Milan, enters the tournament having become quite the sports-world sensation over the last week. Last Sunday, in the high-profile outdoor Stadium Series game against Tampa Bay, he got into a fight with Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy.

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) and Boston Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman (1) fight during the second period of a Stadium Series NHL hockey game Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

During a Lightning power play, Swayman became irritated with Brandon Hagel and got physical with him. A scrum ensued. As Swayman moved away from that, Vasilevskiy came straight at him, all the way from the other side of the rink.

“I wanted to answer the bell when I saw him come to the red line. That was a no retreat situation, so I just wanted to stick up for my teammates, and what an atmosphere to do it at. I’m glad I got that one out of the way. I think I’m gonna happily retire (from fighting) now and work on goal-scoring next.”

After practices Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Team USA’s tournament begins on Thursday against Latvia. The game is scheduled to start at 11:10 a.m. AKST and will be broadcast on Peacock and available on NBCOlympics.com. That will be followed by two more preliminary round games — against Denmark on Saturday, and Germany on Sunday.