The American International College ice hockey team will be represented at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China, as Janis Jaks '20 has been named one of 25 athletes to the roster for Latvia.

"What a testament to Janis and our hockey program. He gets an opportunity to represent his country. I can't think of a better honor. We will be rooting him on," Head Coach Eric Lang said.

Jaks suited up in 135 games over four seasons from 2016-20 for AIC, and left a significant mark on the program's record book. He notched 23 goals with 40 assists for 63 points, with those 23 goals standing as the most by a defenseman in the Division I era of the program's history.

He won All-Conference and All-Tournament accolades from the Atlantic Hockey Association during his Yellow Jackets tenure, helping AIC to back-to-back AHA titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20; among the biggest goals of his career was the tying strike midway through the second frame of the 2019 AHA Championship Game in Buffalo, New York.

Jaks is no stranger to international hockey. He has suited up in 30 games for his country, including appearing in four IIHF World Championships. His first goal for Latvia at the Worlds was in 2019, where he scored against former Olympic Gold Medalist and Vezina Trophy winner Henrik Lundqvist.

His role on the team in Olympic qualifying was a significant one. In three qualifying games for Latvia over the winter against Italy, Hungary, and France, Jaks notched a goal and an assist, and in the final game against France was named player of the match.

Jaks will be AIC's third Olympic athlete. Vezio Sacratini '91 played ice hockey for Italy during the 1994 Olympic Games in Lillehammer, Norway, and Asnage Castelly '02 competed in 74 kg freestyle wrestling for Haiti during the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Castelly also served as his nation's flag bearer. In addition to the trio of competitors, Kevin Collins '72 served as a linesman for ice hockey during the 1998 Olympic Games in Nagano, Japan.

Latvia's first game in the tournament will be against Sweden on February 9 at 11:10 p.m. Eastern Time.