Stephane Da Costa makes France's Olympic team

After playing in qualifiers, this will be the first time Da Costa skates in the Olympics, and he'll become Merrimack's second Olympian in hockey

Former Merrimack forward and recent Merrimack Hall of Fame inductee Stephane Da Costa has been named to France’s Olympic team for the first time in his career.

Da Costa, 36, previously represented France during Olympic qualifying tournaments in 2016 and 2021, though the French failed to advance to the Olympic field on both occasions.

France will make its first Olympic appearance since 2002.

Da Costa is currently in his 11th season in the KHL and continues to produce at a high level. Through 29 games with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, he has 27 points (9 goals, 18 assists).

He played at Merrimack from 2009 to 2011, signing an entry-level contract with the Ottawa Senators following his sophomore season in 2010–11. Da Costa was the top NCAA free agent that season and went on to play parts of four seasons with the Senators before launching a long professional career overseas.

In two seasons with the Warriors, Da Costa totaled 90 points and captured the Tim Taylor Award as the nation’s Rookie of the Year in 2009–10.

According to TMR records, Da Costa will become the second former Warrior to compete in the Olympics, following Karl Stollery’s appearance for Team Canada in 2018.

Former Merrimack assistant coaches Jim Logue and Stu Irving both competed in the Olympics as players, but neither played at Merrimack College.