It's been 12 years since Kenny Agostino left the ice as a state champion for Delbarton. In just a few short weeks, Kenny Agostino '10 will hit the ice, not for an NHL team, or KHL, or even AHL team. Instead, Kenny will be one of 25 Americans selected by general manager John Vanbiesbrouck to represent USA Hockey in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games February 3-20. The team will be coached by former NY Rangers head coach David Quinn.
A Green Wave Hockey alum, Agostino still holds the Delbarton record as all-time leading scorer with 261 points. He was named New Jersey High School Player of the Year by the Star-Ledger in both 2009 and 2010 and recorded 50 goals and 83 points in his senior year of 2009–10. At the 2010 Entry Draft he was a fifth round selection, 140th overall, of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Agostino played four seasons of college hockey for the Yale Bulldogs and was a member of the school's 2013 national championship winning team. As he prepared for the 2013 Frozen Four national championship tournament, the Penguins traded his NHL rights. Yale made it to the championship game and defeated Quinnipiac 4–0 to win the first NCAA team championship of any sport in Yale history. Agostino opted to return for his senior season with the Bulldogs and ended his final season in 2013–14 with 32 points in 32 games; over his four-year collegiate career he recorded an impressive 132 points in 134 games.
At the conclusion of Yale's season he signed a two-year contract with the Flames and made his NHL debut on March 21, 2014. He scored his first goal on April 4 in a 2–1 victory over the Florida Panthers. In July 2016 he left the Flames organization and signed a one-year, two-way contract as a free agent with the St. Louis Blues.
Currently, Agostino is playing in the KHL for HC Torpedo, where he is 14th in the league in points, and 2nd for all American's in the league. Says former coach Bruce Shatel, "the Olympics is perfect for his game, playing on a bigger sheet, having an opportunity to puck possess and make plays. I think you're going to see great things from him at the Games."
The KHL will be taking an Olympic break shortly during the games, so Agostino will be heading back to New Jersey briefly, before heading to LA where he will meet up with his Team USA teammates for the first time. "It's obviously a dream come true to be a part of US Olympic team," said Agostino. "Receiving that phone call from the general manager was a special moment I won't forget."
Team USA opens play on February 10 when it faces host China in its first preliminary round game at 8:10am EST. Congrats Kenny on this honor and we wish you and TEAM USA nothing but the best in Beijing. Roll Wave and GO USA!
