Lakeville’s Jake Oettinger heads to the Olympics in hockey’s most important position: goalie

Jake Oettinger has backstopped the Dallas Stars to the last three Western Conference finals.

He has played in the world championship, world junior tournament and NCAA hockey regionals. As a freshman in high school, he led Lakeville North to the Class 2A championship game.

But what Oettinger felt going into his only 4 Nations Face-Off appearance, a game vs. Sweden that had no bearing on the tournament since Team USA had already locked up a berth in the championship, was unique.

“Technically that game meant nothing,” he said, “and I don’t know if I’ve ever been that nervous or jacked up for a game. That just shows you how much it means to me and to everyone else to play for your country.

“Olympics will be tenfold that and just would be the coolest honor.”

Oettinger is back with Team USA at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, the Lakeville native one of the three goaltenders named to the roster alongside Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman.

The 27-year-old Oettinger is already halfway through another solid season with the Stars, who are once again a Stanley Cup contender, but going to the Olympics “would be probably the coolest thing that happened to me by far,” he said.

At 23-10-4, Oettinger is among the NHL’s leaders in victories, and he went into the Olympics on a 6-0 run.

His first victory of the season was the 150th of his career, making him the fastest American goalie to hit that milestone, and with No. 161 he passed Ed Belfour for the third-most wins in North Stars/Stars history.

“His whole life is consistent,” said Anaheim forward Ryan Poehling, who played with Oettinger at Lakeville North. “That’s the biggest thing: He just lives a consistent life, whether it’s his eating habits, his workout habits, his person relationship habits. All those things are consistent, so it makes his life a lot easier.

“His success that I see isn’t any surprise, and he’s definitely earned it.”

But Oettinger, who was a standout at Boston University and a first-round draft pick in 2017, believes he’s capable of getting ever better.

“Every goalie wants that, so I think for me I have another level in my game that I still can get to, which I think is exciting because I know I still can get a lot better, and that’s what I’m trying to do every day.”

Other than the game he played against Sweden, Oettinger backed up Hellebuyck the rest of the 4 Nations where the U.S. lost to Canada 3-2 in overtime, and Oettinger could remain behind Hellebuyck on the depth chart in Italy.

The two goalies are used to facing off against each other as rivals in the Central Division, but the mentality switches quickly when they’re both wearing the same jersey.

“There’s a lot of guys that have guys around the league that are really, really good friends,” Oettinger said. “But the second you drop the puck, you’re trying to win for your team. The same goes for us: When we play Winnipeg or Boston, obviously I want those guys to get lit up.

“But then when we play for USA, it’s all about your country, and whether your number’s called or not, you just want your team to win.”

He’s a father now, he and his wife, Kennedi, welcoming a son named Rhodes last year.