Michigan in the Olympics
2022 - Beijing
Ice Dancing
Ice dancer Evan Bates was U-M's sole medalist in Beijing, claiming the silver medal in the Ice Dancing Team Event with partner Madison Chock. Bates was first U.S figure skater to compete in four Olympic games. Bates and Chock, who made her third Olympic appearance, clinched a spot on the US team by winning their third US national title in January.
Bates was a U-M sophomore in 2010 when he teamed with fellow U-M sophomore Emily Samuelson in Vancouver. Bates and Chock finished in 8th place in 2014 and 9th in 2018.
Ice Hockey
With NHL players out of the 2022 games, Michigan put four skaters on the U.S. team: current players Matty Beniers and Brendan Brisson and players Steve Kampfer and Strauss Mann. The total tied the University of Minnesota for most players on the U.S. team. Strauss Mann was named captain of the US team, the first goalie to get the honor in 8 years. Owen Power and Kent Johnson made the Canadian team. Neither team made it to the medal stand. The U.S. finished 5th and Canada sixth.
Strauss Mann Steve Kampfer
Strauss Mann was in goal for the Wolverines 2019-2021, compiling a 3-30-6 career record with a .926 save percentage. He ranks 4th among Michigan goalies with 11 career shutouts. As a junior he was selected captain of the 2020 team, the first goalie to lead the team since Henry Loud in 1943 and was named Big Ten goalie of the year. Mann skipped his senior season to sign with the Swedish professional team Skelleftea AIK. Mann was the second Michigan goalie to make an Olympic team, joining Willard Ikola who won a silver medal in 1956. In Beijing Mann was in goal for the U.S. for a 4-2 win over Canada and a 3-2 shootout loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinals.
Steve Kampfer, born in Ann Arbor and raised in Jackson MI, played defense for Michigan 2007-2010. The 2008 team won CCHA regular season and tournament titles and made it to the NCAA Frozen Four, but Kampfer didn't play much that season after being injured in an assault on campus. His pro career has been an up-and-down affair with a number of moves between the NHL and AHL. He had spent time with four NHL teams, including the Boston Bruins where he won a Stanley Cup in 2011-sort of. He was called up to the Bruins in mid-season and played in 38 regular season games, but did not see action in the playoffs. The minimum to get your name inscribed on Lord Stanley's Cup is 41 regular season games. The Bruins appealed to get Kampfer's name on the cup. He did get to participate in the tradition in which each player gets the cup for a day and proudly brought it home to Ann Arbor and Jackson. Currently with the Providence Bruins of the AHL, Kampfer, at age 33, was one of the oldest players on a very young U.S. team.
Matty Beniers Brendan Brisson
Sophomore forward Matty Beniers had 16 goals and 20 assists for the Wolverines before joining to the U.S. team. He tallied 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) as a freshman. He was the 2nd overall pick in 2021 NHL draft, the first ever pick for the new Seattle Kraken franchise.
Brendan Brisson, also a sophomore forward, came to U-M from Manhattan Beach, California by way of Shattuck-St. Mary's in Faribault, Minnesota. He was just behind Beniers in scoring with 17 goals and 1 assists before leaving for Beijing. Brisson won a gold medal with the U.S. at the 2020-21 World Junior Championships. He was the 29th pick in the 2020 draft by the Vegas Golden Knights.
Owen Power Kent Johnson
Sophomore defenseman Owen Power from Mississauga, Ontario, led the Canadian team in minutes played, averaging 21.39 per game. As a freshman he was named second team all-Big Ten and this season was the top scoring defenseman in the NCAA with 26 points (3 goals and 23 assists) through January 28. He was a nominee for the 2022 Hobie Baker Award and was the No. 1 overall pick in 2021 NHL draft.
Kent Johnson, yet another sophomore, was an alternate for the Canadian team. A forward from Port Moody B.C., Johnson was the Wolverine's second leading scorer as freshman with 27 points (9 goals 18 assists). As of Jan. 24 he was leading the NCAA with 27 assists and with 10 goals ranked 10th in scoring. He was on Canada's 2020/21 World Junior team and was the No. overall pick in NHL the draft. Some Canadian observers expressed surprise that Johnson was not named to the regular squad, but, unlike the U. S.'s youthful squad, Canada elected to go with a veteran dominated team. In the end, Johnson did see action in Beijing, netting 1 goal and 4 assists to tie for second in team points for the Canadians.
Steve Kampfer, Brendan Brisson, Matty Beniers, Strauss Mann
The U-M Results - 2022
| Madison Chock and Evan Bates | ||
| Ice Dancing | ||
| Ice Dancing Team Event | Silver (first in free dance portion of event) | |
| Matty Beniers | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Brendan Brisson | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Steve Kampfer | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Strauss Mann | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Owen Power (Canada) | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Kent Johnson (Canada) | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||