At a Glance
- NHL stars Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes headline the 25-player roster.
- Team USA will face Latvia, Denmark and Germany in Group C.
- Gold medal match on Feb 22, same day as the closing ceremony.
- Why it matters: The U.S. seeks its first Olympic hockey medal since 2010.
Team USA has announced its 25-player roster for the men’s ice hockey competition at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. The lineup includes NHL stars Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes, marking the first return of NHL talent since 2010. The team will compete in Group C against Latvia, Denmark and Germany.
Roster Highlights
The roster consists of 22 skaters and 3 goaltenders. Key forwards include Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, Jack Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Jake Guentzel, Clayton Keller, Dylan Larkin, J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson and Vincent Trocheck. Defensemen feature Charlie McAvoy, Quinn Hughes, Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin, Seth Jones, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin and Zach Werenski. Goalies are Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Group Stage Schedule
- Latvia – Feb 12 at 3:10 p.m. ET
- Denmark – Feb 14 at 3:10 p.m. ET
- Germany – Feb 15 at 3:10 p.m. ET
The gold medal will be awarded on Feb 22, the same day as the closing ceremony.
Historical Context
- Team USA has earned 11 men’s hockey medals in its Olympic history.
- Gold medals came in 1960 (Squaw Valley) and 1980 (Lake Placid).
- The most recent medal was a silver in 2010 (Vancouver).
- The team finished fourth in 2014 (Sochi), seventh in 2018 (PyeongChang) and fifth in 2022 (Beijing).
Key Takeaways
- NHL stars Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Jack Hughes lead the 25-player roster.
- Group C opponents: Latvia, Denmark, Germany.
- Gold medal match on Feb 22, same day as the closing ceremony.
The announcement marks a significant step toward a potential Olympic medal for Team USA after a 16-year wait.
