USA, Canada Announce First 12 Hockey Players for 2026 Olympics

The U.S. men's hockey team has announced its first six players for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, featuring top NHL stars Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, and Charlie McAvoy, all first-time Olympians who previously contributed to Team USA's strong performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The full roster, including goalies such as Connor Hellebuyck and Jake Oettinger, will be finalized in January 2026 ahead of the Olympic tournament starting February 11. Meanwhile, Hockey Canada revealed a veteran-heavy selection led by Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, both aiming for Olympic gold after NHL players' return to the Games for the first time since 2014. McDavid, currently in the Stanley Cup Final, expressed pride in representing Canada, which also named Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart to its initial roster. The NHL’s participation marks a significant comeback for the Winter Olympics, with 12 teams competing and Russia banned due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Both the U.S. and Canada are preparing strong teams, with the Olympic hockey event scheduled to run from February 11 to 22, 2026, at venues in the Milan area.