Vienna's Garrett Roe Sets Up First Hockey Goal In US Loss

Vienna's own Garrett Roe got an assist in U.S. Men's Hockey's first goal of the 2018 Winter Olympics Wednesday, Feb. 14. The U.S. team lost against Slovenia 2-3 in overtime during the first preliminary round game.

The goal came with 2:16 left in the first period. Roe made a pass behind the net to Brian O'Neill, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania native. Also scoring was Jordan Greenway, the first African-American U.S. Olympic hockey player, to give the U.S. a two-goal lead. See Roe's assist below.

Slovenia scored two goals in the third period to tie up the game, leading to sudden death 3-on-3 overtime. The Slovenian team won the game with an overtime goal.

Team USA's next preliminary round games are Thursday, Feb. 15 at 10:10 p.m. ET against Slovakia and Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:10 a.m. ET against Olympic Athletes From Russia. Both are broadcast on NBCSN.

In the past, NHL stars have represented their countries in the Olympics, but the NHL decided to bar their players from participating. As a result, lesser-known players like Roe have been given the opportunity to suit up for their countries.

Roe, 29, is a forward for the EV Zug in the Swiss National League. Originally he was chosen in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft by the Los Angeles Kings and got to play for the minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers among other professional teams. His dream of playing in the NHL all but ended when he left the American minor leagues to play overseas. But Roe told WTOP competing in the Olympics is somewhat of a silver lining of never making it to the NHL.

He began his hockey career in the local area, playing youth hockey for the Washington Little Capitals and Reston Raiders, which his father Larry helped found and coaches today.

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GANGNEUNG, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 14: Garrett Roe #11 of the United States skates against Jan Urbas #26 of Slovenia during the Men's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group B game on day five of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics at Kwandong Hockey Centre on February 14, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. Image via Harry How/Getty Images/Getty Images Sport