The winter Olympics opening Friday night in Canada include a number of athletes from Orange County or who now play here.
Anaheim-native Greg Bretz is the youngest member of the U.S. snowboarding team. He’ll be competing in the men’s halfpipe, which starts Wednesday.
Mitchell Whitmore, born in Santa Ana, is racing in the men’s 500-meter speed skating event, which kicks off today.
Hockey pucks start gliding Tuesday with nine Anaheim Ducks playing in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Defenseman Ryan Whitney and forward Bobby Ryan are on Team USA.
Forwards Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf and defenseman Scott Niedermayer are enlisted for Canada. Getzlaf, one of hockey’s young stars, is nursing a sprained ankle and is day to day on whether he’ll play in the Olympics.
Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller and defenseman prospect Luca Sbisa are representing their native Switzerland.
And forwards Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu will skate for Finland.
