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T.J. Oshie, Hockey Star: Becoming a Father Is Scarier Than My Olympics Shootout

T.J. Oshie
T.J. Oshie #74 of the United States celebrates after scoring a shootout goal against Russia during the Men's Ice Hockey Preliminary Round Group A game on day eight of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics at Bolshoy Ice Dome on February 15, 2014 in Sochi, Russia.

Oshie may have taken over Sochi, but he’s not really aware of it. Hockey star T.J. Oshie is still processing his major win over Russia for Team USA on Saturday, Feb. 15. The 27-year-old St. Louis Blues player dominated a tense shootout against the host country’s team as President Vladimir Putin watched from the stand. Oshie spoke exclusively to Us Weekly’s senior reporter Jennifer Peros in Sochi about life since the win and moving forward to hopefully snag the gold medal this weekend. 

Related: PHOTOS: Team USA athletes to watch

“It hasn’t really hit me too much,” he admitted to Us. “Getting on Twitter and seeing the followers and stuff, I guess it sinks in a little bit. Now I feel like I need to watch what I say on Twitter! Not bore people like I do.” 

Oshie became an overnight sensation, with The White House and his favorite team, Super Bowl champs the Seattle Seahawks, tweeting him congratulations. 

Related: PHOTOS: Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremony

“It’s a little much, to be honest,” he revealed. “I tend to fly under the radar a little bit so to have all this press around me is pretty crazy and surreal. But it’s not too hard for me to focus on the task at hand and put all that to the side.” 

T.J. Oshie and Pregnant Fiance Lauren Cosgrove
T.J. Oshie and his pregnant fiancee Lauren Cosgrove go for their ultrasound in December 2013.

But his teammates aren’t giving him any special treatment, in fact, it’s just the opposite. 

“I’m getting jokes [from them] now,” he said. “I’m the brunt of the jokes. They’ve got a couple of nicknames for me. But I’m trying to squash them so I’m not going to put them in Us Weekly! But it’s all in good fun.” 

Related: PHOTOS: Olympians' darkest secrets

Some of the jokes might have to do with the athlete’s new female fan base. And though one woman screamed out during Oshie’s Us Weekly interview, “You have a hot ass!” the rink star is most definitely taken. 

He is currently engaged to blonde stunner Lauren Cosgrove, whom he’s marrying next summer; she’s due to give birth to the couple’s first child, a baby girl, in just five weeks. The dad-to-be admitted that having a baby girl is far scarier than his nail-biting shootout against Russia. 

Related: PHOTOS: Olympians who have turned into TV and movie stars

“[Between the two] it’s gotta be the daughter,” he said. “She’s going to give me a run for my money!”

For more on the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi — including personal stories from the Team USA athletes, and tons of photos — pick up Us Weekly’s special Olympics bookazine!

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