At a Glance
- Canada unveils a 25-man roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
- The lineup features NHL stars Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar.
- Veterans Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty return after gold-medal wins in 2010 and 2014.
- Why it matters: The team aims to bring home gold in a tournament where NHL players return after a 12-year absence.
Canada announced its men’s ice hockey roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, a 25-man squad led by star forwards Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar. The lineup also includes seasoned veterans Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty and Brad Marchand, and a 19-year-old rookie Macklin Celebrini.
Key Selections
The first six players named in June were:
- Sidney Crosby – forward, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Nathan MacKinnon – forward, Colorado Avalanche
- Cale Makar – defense, Colorado Avalanche
- Connor McDavid – forward, Edmonton Oilers
- Brayden Point – forward, Tampa Bay Lightning
- Sam Reinhart – forward, Florida Panthers
Management & Quote
Blues general manager Doug Armstrong serves as Team Canada’s GM, while Lightning two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach Jon Cooper is the Canadians’ bench boss.
Doug Armstrong said:
> “We are excited to unveil the 25 athletes… we have assembled a highly skilled and deep roster that can compete for a gold medal… It was a long and difficult process… proud of the tireless effort our management group has put in to select our team.”
Context & Tournament
The Milan Cortina Games will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014, when Canada defeated Sweden for gold. The roster builds on the team’s 4 Nations Face-Off title win last February, where Canada beat the United States 3-2 in overtime. The Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament runs from Feb. 12-22.
| Player | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Sidney Crosby | Forward | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| Nathan MacKinnon | Forward | Colorado Avalanche |
| Cale Makar | Defense | Colorado Avalanche |
| Connor McDavid | Forward | Edmonton Oilers |
| Brayden Point | Forward | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Sam Reinhart | Forward | Florida Panthers |
Key Takeaways
- Canada’s roster features five NHL stars and a 19-year-old rookie.
- The team aims for gold after a 12-year NHL absence from the Olympics.
- The tournament will run from Feb. 12-22 in Milan Cortina.
The announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes showdown as Canada looks to secure another gold medal in the 2026 Winter Games.
