Former Comets Player Joins Team USA for the 2018 Winter Olympics

If you've been to a Utica Comets game in the last few years, you've probably seen this athlete take the ice. Now, you can cheer him on in the Olympics for Team USA.

Just one more reason to watch the Winter Olympics this year, you can cheer on Chad Billins and the rest of the USA Team as they strive to take home the gold in the Men's Hockey Tournament. Billins, who used to wear number 40 for the Utica Comets, is actually a native on Marysville, Michigan. He played for Ferris State University in his early hockey days. According to the Times Herald, Billins is now playing for Linkopings HC of the Swedish Hockey League. But before he joined them, he spent the 2016-2017 hockey season with the Utica Comets.

The 28-year-old defenseman will be heading to South Korea with Team USA to play against Slovenia, according to the Times Herald. That game will be Wednesday, February 14th at 7:10am (Eastern Time). According to Team USA's Hockey Schedule for the 2018 Winter Olympics, the men's team will then take on Slovakia on Friday, February 15th at 12:10pm (Eastern Time). The last preliminary game will be Saturday, February 17th, against Russia. That game is set for 7:10am (Eastern Time).

Not only am I excited to see a former Utica Comets player being a part of the 2018 Winter Olympics, but as I mentioned earlier, Billins is from Marysville, Michigan, which is an area that used to be my old stomping grounds. Actually, some of my friends from that area have said they've played hockey with Billins (wayyy back in the day), which makes it even more exciting. Good luck Chad, and good luck to the rest of Team USA in the 2018 Winter Olympics.

We'll be cheering you on!