On August 19th, Team USA’s Olympic officials announced the list of 44 players invited to the men’s Olympic orientation camp for the 2025-26 season. Pittsburgh Penguins forward <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/tag/bryan-rust/”>Bryan Rust was included, aiming to secure a spot on Team USA’s roster for what could be his final Olympic opportunity. The camp will take place August 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan, focusing on administrative matters without any on-ice sessions or fan attendance. Team USA is expected to reveal its final 25-player roster in early January.

Competition Among Forwards for Olympic Roster Places

Rust is listed among 24 forwards at the camp, though only 19 are still in contention since four forwards have already been named to the Olympic team. His main rivals for a slot include high-profile forwards such as Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, Tage Thompson, and Kyle Connor. Rust is projected to be part of the bottom six forwards, possibly on the fourth line, competing against players like Conor Garland, Shane Pinto, Chris Kreider, and Matthew Knies. Despite stiff competition, Rust’s gritty and physical style fits the mold of a hardworking bottom-six forward, a role often valued by Olympic coaches in favor of younger players.

At age 33, Rust is coming off the best offensive season of his career, recording 31 goals and 34 assists for a total of 65 points over 71 games. This performance matches his career-high in assists and surpasses his previous goal total, establishing a new personal best in scoring. With an 11-year <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/hockey/nhl/”>NHL career tallying 203 goals and 234 assists in 638 games, Rust brings veteran experience, especially as he prepares for another season alongside Sidney Crosby on the Penguins’ top line.

Rust’s Background in International Play and Olympic Aspirations

Although Rust has worn the USA jersey multiple times early in his career, his last international appearance was during the 2009-10 World Junior Championships. He also competed in the U17 and U18 tournaments but has not represented the United States since joining the NCAA in 2010-11. After more than a decade in the NHL, Rust now appears poised to finally earn a chance to compete for Team USA on the Olympic stage and pursue his first gold medal, potentially marking the last such opportunity in his playing career.