MILAN — As of Wednesday evening, Brock Nelson still had some pretty important homework to do.
His uncle, Dave Christian — a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Miracle on Ice team — was on his way to Milan to watch his nephew in the Olympics.
Nelson still hadn’t watched the new Netflix documentary memorializing the team, in which Christian played a prominent role.
“It’s on my to-do list today,” Nelson told The Post after Team USA practiced. “I’ve heard really good things. I’ve heard it’s pretty emotional and cool. I had my kids at home, we were trying to watch it during the day. It was a little hectic so I turned it off. I’m gonna watch it tonight before the games get going.”
The movie aside, Nelson, an Islander until last season, is not at all nonchalant about his family history.
When he takes the ice against Latvia on Thursday, he’ll become the fourth member of his family to represent the U.S. hockey team in the Olympic Games.
His grandfather, Bill Christian, and great-uncle, Roger Christian, won gold in Squaw Valley in 1960.
Dave Christian was part of the most famous victory in American sports history, winning gold in Lake Placid.
Nelson, a first-time Olympian at 34, knows exactly what it means to wear these colors.
Making the 4 Nations Face-Off team a year ago was as big an achievement as he’s ever had.
The magnitude of making the Olympics still hasn’t sunk in yet. Not all the way, even a few days into being here in Italy.
“I feel like it’s a little bit every day, something different,” Nelson said. “Even going to the women’s game, we went to the USA-Canada game [Tuesday night]. To see that atmosphere was pretty electric. Seeing all the guys here, seeing the setup, all the gear you get, the other athletes in the village — just being able to say you’re staying in the village is pretty awesome. Just trying to take it all in. There’s so many aspects of it that make it so special.”
2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
He still talks to his grandpa, Bill, age 88, on a near-daily basis.
“Super emotional,” Nelson said of the phone call between them after he was named to Team USA. “I could hear just how happy he was. Tears of joy. It meant a lot to him and I. It’s super special I get to share that conversation.
“The memories I have with him are just him back home skating when I was a little kid, calling him grandpa. Always taking care of us and being there for us. Always to this day. So I’m super fortunate to have him.”
Nelson’s scoring has always come in bunches, and he got red-hot last month, scoring 12 times with 18 total points in 14 games.
After a slow start to the year with the Avalanche, he had 29 goals at the NHL’s Olympic break, with a career-high 40 in sight.
His role at the Olympics, though, will be similar to what he did last year at 4 Nations.
Nelson has skated on the fourth line in practices with Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Jack Hughes all with him at various points.
(Thirteen forwards can dress in the Olympics, so it is possible that three out of those four will make up a line at any point Thursday).
“I feel good about my game,” Nelson said. “Trying to take it day by day. Going in with the same mindset that every game’s gonna be a little bit different and trying to navigate the challenge. Obviously we have the same structure, same kind of routine to prep yourself and then go into it with an open mind and intention of what you want to accomplish here.”
