As millions tune in this weekend to the opening of the 2022 Winter Olympics, several Union athletes have traveled to Beijing, China to represent their respective countries.
Daniel Carr ’14, Spencer Foo, Parker Foo, Hannah Soar and Tucker West will all compete for an Olympic gold medal.
In addition to athletes, Matthew Futterman ’91, deputy sports editor for the New York Times, is in China covering the Olympic games. Follow along with Futterman’s news coverage here.
Daniel Carr ‘14
Men’s Ice Hockey, Canada
First Olympic game: 8:10 a.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 10 versus Germany
Carr was instrumental in bringing a Division I national championship to Schenectady, earning AHCA All-America second-team honors after compiling a team-leading 50 points (22-28-50) in 2013-14, including points in all four NCAA Tournament games. The former assistant captain racked up 157 points (78-79-157) in 160 career games, graduating as the program’s all-time D-I leading scorer and currently ranking second in scoring from Union’s Division I era. Carr holds Union D-I records in career goals scored (78), power-play goals (34) and games played (160), as well as single-season power-play goals (12) and single-game power-play goals (3). He played in 132 straight games to end his career, the fourth-longest streak ever by a Dutchman. Since graduating, he split time between the NHL and AHL for seven years and is currently playing for HC Lugano in Switzerland.
Spencer Foo
Men’s Ice Hockey, China
First Olympic game: 8:10 a.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 10 versus USA
Foo had a fantastic three-year career with the Dutchmen, registering 112 points (46-63-112) and playing in all 113 games over his time in Schenectady, the eighth-longest consecutive game streak in program history. After recording 25 points in each of his first two seasons, Foo had a breakout junior season for Union, setting a school Division I record with 36 assists and potting 26 goals to finish with 62 points, the second-highest single-season total in school history. He was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist and an AHCA All-America first-team selection following his record-setting campaign. After two years between the NHL and AHL, he has spent the last two seasons with Kunlun Red Star of the KHL.
Parker Foo
Men’s Ice Hockey, China
First Olympic game: 8:10 a.m. EST, Thursday, Feb. 10 versus USA
Foo was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and spent three years in a Union uniform, scoring nine goals with 19 assists for 28 points in 88 games. He moved on to the professional level after his junior year, joining his brother Spencer with the Kunlun Red Star of the KHL for the last two years.
Hannah Soar
Women’s Mogul Skiing, USA
First Olympic contest: qualification round Feb. 3; final round Feb. 6
Soar, who spent two terms at Union before transferring to the University of Utah, is making her Olympic debut by way of her home mountain in Killington, Vt. “It’s a crazy feeling when everything you’ve ever worked for works out! To me, the Olympics takes a tremendous amount of dedication and a whole lot of luck. I am so grateful that everything came together for me to make the 2022 Olympic Team.”
Of her time at Union: “My most memorable experience was when I first got to campus in spring 2019. Dean Kate Schurick already had a group of girls ready to show me around. It was really scary showing up to a school in the spring with no friends and no college experience right after a World Cup season. The girls and the community seemed to already know my story, and made me feel very welcome! I also had some really great professors and mentors. Dean Schurick and Prof. Joyce Madancy were really influential in helping me navigate Union and academics, and they assisted in tailoring all of this to fit my unique needs.
Union absolutely aided me in making this Olympic team. After my spring term at Union, I got my first World Cup podium the following season. I think it helped me take the pressure off myself because it taught me that I also have a passion for academics and moguls isn’t the ‘be all end all.’
I loved my experience at Union College, it honestly feels like a faraway dream. I still talk to multiple people from my one term on campus and one term online. I am so grateful for those friendships and my short (but sweet!) Union experience. It opened my eyes to liberal arts education and the power of taking control of your own destiny, both in and out of the classroom.”
Tucker West
Men’s Single Luge, USA
First Olympic contest: 6:10 a.m. EST, Saturday, Feb. 5
West, who has taken classes at Union during downtimes from Olympic training in Lake Placid, returns for his third Olympic games. He has also competed in Sochi in 2014 and Pyeongchang in 2018. He holds three World Cup single luge victories and 10 World Cup medals overall. He is a nine-time National Indoor Start Champion.