Austria has announced its hockey roster for the upcoming Sochi Olympic Games.
Among those chosen to lead the nation in the tournament are New York Islanders stars Thomas Vanek and Michael Grabner. The only other NHL player to join the team was Philadelphia Flyers forward Michael Raffl.
"For me and [Michael] Grabner, it's exciting just to be part of the Olympics. And I think our country is excited," said Vanek about playing in the Olympics, according to NHL.com. "We obviously have our skiers and ski jumpers that do well, but for an actual team to go there, people are excited. But again, I'm not going there thinking we're going to win a medal. I watched qualification on the internet against Germany when we made it and that alone felt like a medal.
"But it will be fun. I don't think we're horrible. I don't think we can compete with Canada or Finland, but again, you go in there with a good attitude, have fun with it and see what comes out of it. Hey, it could be worse."
Vanek currently has a career-high nine-game point streak. He has scored 15 goals and 21 assists this season. Grabner has struggled a bit in the scoring department during 2013-14 with only five goals and seven assists in 40 games; Grabner scored 15 goals and six assists in 45 games last season during the lockout year. Raffl has put together two goals and nine assists in his debut NHL season.
Here is the full Austrian roster below:
Goalkeepers: Bernhard Starkbaum, Brynäs Gävle (SWE), René Swette, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Fabian Weinhandl, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT).
Defensemen: Mario Altmann, VSV Villach (AUT), Florian Iberer, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Andre Lakos, Vienna Capitals (AUT), Robert Lukas, EHC Linz (AUT), Thomas Pöck, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Matthias Trattnig, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Stefan Ulmer, HC Lugano (SUI), Gerhard Unterluggauer, VSV Villach (AUT).
Forwards: Michael Grabner, New York Islanders (NHL), Raphael Herburger, EHC Biel (SUI), Thomas Hundertpfund, Timrå IK (SWE), Matthias Iberer, EHC Linz (AUT), Thomas Koch, KAC Klagenfurt (AUT), Andreas Kristler, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Manuel Latusa, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Brian Lebler, EHC Linz (AUT), Daniel Oberkofler, EHC Linz (AUT), Michael Raffl, Philadelphia Flyers (NHL), Thomas Raffl, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT), Oliver Setzinger, Lausanne HC (SUI), Thomas Vanek, New York Islanders (NHL),Daniel Welser, Red Bull Salzburg (AUT).