Minnesota’s hockey hotbed could celebrate a third family gold medal as Brock Nelson skates for Team USA in 2026.
Warroad’s Olympic hockey legacy lives on: Could Team USA bring home another gold medal to the town in Minnesota?
If you’ve never heard of Warroad, in Roseau County, Minnesota, you’re probably not alone. Yet this small city of fewer than 2,000 residents has already produced two Olympic gold medalists and could soon celebrate a third.
Warroad is the hometown of Brock Nelson, the NHL veteran set to represent Team USA in men’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. The Colorado Avalanche forward has a chance not only to become the third Olympic champion from Warroad, but also the third member of the same family to win gold in the very same event.
A family legacy of Olympic gold
The pressure is real for Nelson, who has a proud family history to match.
His uncle, Dave Christian, was part of the iconic U.S. men’s ice hockey team that won gold in the “Miracle on Ice” at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, one of the most celebrated moments in American sports history.
Two decades earlier, Nelson’s grandfather, Bill Christian, accomplished the same feat at the 1960 Winter Olympics in Squaw Valley.
Those remain the only two times Team USA has captured Olympic gold in men’s ice hockey. If Nelson can help deliver another title in 2026, he would complete a remarkable three-generation story and become the first of the trio to win Olympic gold outside the United States.
On Brock Nelson and the golden legacy he carries into the Olympics.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 10, 2026
"We certainly would welcome the opportunity to say, 'Hey, Brock, welcome to the club.' "https://t.co/z9RM9Y1PF0
Team USA men’s hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics
Team USA opened round-robin play against Latvia on Feb. 12, which they won 5-1. The next game was agaisnt Denmark on Feb. 14 and Team USA went on to win 6-3. The final game of the preliminary round was against Germany on Feb. 15 and the U.S. won 5-1.
Just an absolute passing clinic and Brock Nelson finishes it for goal No. 2 of the night 😮💨 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/6HOXI7auAc
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 12, 2026
Team USA reached the semifinals by beating Sweden in overtime 2-1. Today they face Slovakia in semi-finals for a chance to win the gold medal on Sunday, Feb. 22.
If history is any guide, Warroad may once again find itself at the center of American Olympic legacy. And if genetics count for anything, Nelson has as good a shot as anyone.
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