The one five-time Paralympic gold medallist in Para ice hockey historical past, USA’s Josh Pauls has introduced his retirement from the nationwide crew alongside fellow four-time Paralymic champions Jen Lee and Kevin McKee.

Three of essentially the most embellished athletes ever to play the game, Pauls, Lee and McKee deliver their worldwide careers to a detailed after serving to Staff USA safe a fifth consecutive Paralympic title on the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Video games, extending a exceptional profitable streak that started at Vancouver 2010.

Pauls additionally retires as a seven-time world champion, whereas McKee claimed six World Para Ice Hockey Championship titles and Lee gained 5 world crowns.

“The U.S. Nationwide Sled Hockey Staff is not going to be the identical with out Jen, Kevin and Josh,” Staff USA Normal Supervisor Dan Brennan instructed USA Hockey. “All three had been distinctive and introduced true professionalism, grit, humour and willpower to our crew each on and off the ice. Their management set the usual for all our present gamers transferring ahead.”

Most embellished Paralympian

Defenceman Pauls retires as the one athlete in Para ice hockey historical past to win 5 Paralympic gold medals, having stood atop the rostrum at Vancouver 2010, Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026.

He additionally represented Staff USA at 10 World Para Ice Hockey Championships, profitable seven gold medals at Ostrava 2009, Hamar 2012, Buffalo 2015, Ostrava 2019, Ostrava 2021, Moose Jaw 2023 and Buffalo 2025, along with three silver medals at Goyang 2013, Gangneung 2017 and Calgary 2024.

Appointed captain forward of the 2017-18 season, Pauls led america to 3 Paralympic titles and 4 world championships whereas sporting the “C”.

He retires from the nationwide crew with a programme-record 237 appearances throughout all competitions. His 142 profession assists rank second within the nationwide crew historical past, whereas his 213 factors (71G, 142A) are the third highest complete by a Staff USA participant.

“To each teammate I’ve ever performed with, I wish to say thanks. Regardless of how a lot you assume you’ve got obtained from me, I assure I took extra from you, and I discovered far more from you than I used to be capable of ever train,” Pauls stated.

“The recollections of sacrifice, pleasure, defeat and revelry may have me trying again on the final 18 years as a number of the purest pleasure I’ve ever skilled.”

At Beijing 2022, Pauls grew to become the primary Para ice hockey athlete to win 4 Paralympic gold medals. He added a historic fifth title in Milano Cortina this 12 months, contributing 9 factors (2G, 7A) in 5 video games. Throughout 5 Paralympic appearances, he totalled 30 factors (6G, 24A) in 24 video games.

After 14 years & 9 gold medals with the U.S. Sled Nationwide Staff, Jen Lee has introduced his retirement 🇺🇸

A four-time Paralympic gold medalist & five-time World Champion, Lee leaves behind a legacy as one in all Staff USA’s all-time greats in internet.

Learn on: https://t.co/xyuq0IL4AU pic.twitter.com/orBd4nxHrp

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) September 23, 2026

USA’s most profitable goaltender

Goaltender Lee represented Staff USA in 70 video games throughout 13 seasons, profitable Paralympic gold medals at Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026.

He was additionally a part of world title-winning groups at Hamar 2012, Ostrava 2019, Ostrava 2021, Moose Jaw 2023 and Buffalo 2025, whereas incomes silver medals at Goyang 2013 and Calgary 2024.

“I am grateful to the teaching employees for sticking to their weapons and believing in me all these years,” Lee stated. “I am grateful for my teammates, not solely as teammates, however as brothers and household. This can be a perpetually bond irrespective of which journey all of us resolve to take after we’re finished taking part in. As a child you dream to be an athlete or attempt to be a part of a crew and a part of one thing massive. I used to be in a position to try this, it is a dream come true.”

Lee retires as Staff USA’s all-time chief in goals-against common (0.73) and save share (.899), compiling a profession document of 50-2-0-3 throughout all competitions.

McKee departs after 16 seasons

Ahead McKee concludes a 16-year nationwide crew profession with 61 objectives and 84 assists for 145 factors in 184 appearances. All 4 totals rank among the many prime 5 in programme historical past.

A four-time Paralympic champion, McKee gained gold medals at Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milano Cortina 2026. He additionally claimed six world titles at Hamar 2012, Buffalo 2015, Ostrava 2019, Ostrava 2021, Moose Jaw 2023 and Buffalo 2025, alongside silver medals at Goyang 2013, Gangneung 2017 and Calgary 2024.

“Thanks, Dan Brennan, for choosing a small-town boy from Iowa in 2010 and giving him an opportunity to reside out his dream of taking part in on the nationwide crew,” McKee instructed USA Hockey.

“I am actually going to overlook the wonderful employees on this crew and my teammates. I am grateful for the recollections now we have made on and off the ice, and I’ll by no means take that with no consideration. It has been an honour to placed on the USA Hockey jersey for the final 16 years.”

McKee made his Paralympic debut at Sochi 2014 earlier than having fun with a breakthrough efficiency at PyeongChang 2018, the place he recorded eight factors (2G, 6A) in 5 video games as Staff USA defended its title. He added an help in two video games at Beijing 2022 earlier than overcoming damage to return for Milano Cortina 2026, scoring in his first sport again.

Throughout 4 Paralympic Winter Video games, McKee amassed 10 factors (3G, 7A) in 12 appearances.

Staff USA will start a brand new period with out its championship-winning trio when it travels to Ostrava, Czechia, to defend its world title on the 2027 World Para Ice Hockey Championships A-Pool from 1 to eight Might.