Kenny Agostino achieving life goals at Beijing 2022

Even before Kenny Agostino scored a crucial goal for Team USA against Canada in the men’s ice hockey preliminary round, he had realised a lifelong dream.

The 29-year-old left-winger was drafted into the U.S. roster in late December after the National Hockey League (NHL) announced that its players would not participate at Beijing 2022.

And he says the phone call confirming his inclusion at Beijing 2022 was a life-changing moment.

"It's definitely a phone call I don't think I'll ever forget," he told the Morristown Daily Record in January. "I absolutely love the Olympic Winter Games.

"As a kid growing up, my three biggest dreams in hockey were to win the Frozen Four, which I was fortunate enough to accomplish (at Yale); to win a Stanley Cup — unfortunately, that didn't happen — and to go to the Olympics, which is definitely a dream come true."

Now that he’s here in Beijing, Agostini is targeting Team USA’s first men's hockey medal since silver at Vancouver 2010.

Agostino is one of the most experienced players in what is Team USA’s youngest squad since 1994.

He is one of six players among the 25-man group with NHL experience, which means he’ll be one of the characters his teammates will be looking to as they try and progress through the competition.

Agostino made his NHL debut in March 2014 for the Calgary Flames and played 10 games for the Canadian side.

Spells at St Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs followed as he made 86 starts, registering eight goals and 22 assists.

He then joined AHL club Chicago Wolves and was named the AHL MVP after an 83-point season in 2016-17.

After making one appearance for the Leafs last season, he joined Kontinental Hockey League (KHL)