Hockey Canada Announces 2026 Winter Olympics Men's Hockey Team

On Wednesday, Hockey Canada made headlines on Sportsnet and TSN by revealing the full 25-player roster for the Canadian men's hockey team, set to compete in the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The roster features 14 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goalies, with prominent players from previous international competitions making the cut.

Returning Stars

Among the confirmed players are hockey superstars Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, Sam Reinhart, Brayden Point, and Cale Makar, all of whom participated in the recent Four Nations Face-Off tournament. This tournament concluded with Canada triumphing over the United States 3-2 in a dramatic overtime victory.

The final roster sees a significant carryover from the Four Nations Face-Off, with only six new faces: Macklin Celebrini, Nick Suzuki, Bo Horvat, Wilson, Darcy Kuemper, and Thompson joining the squad.

Locks and Surprises

Before the announcement, McDavid, MacKinnon, and Makar were widely regarded as surefire selections. In fact, McDavid and MacKinnon currently lead the league in points, and Makar stands out as the top-scoring defenseman. Despite being 38, Crosby's performance remains stellar, with 40 points in 38 games, making him a safe choice after leading Canada to Olympic gold in 2014.

The selection process, however, was not without its controversies, particularly surrounding the inclusion of young talents like Macklin Celebrini, who secured a place on the team with an impressive 60 points in his second NHL season. Conversely, top rookie Connor Bedard and defenseman Matthew Schaefer were notably left off the roster, leading to debates among fans and analysts.

Notable Snubs

Bedard, the 2023 NHL draft's first overall pick, has had a mixed season marred by injuries but still managed to secure 44 points this year, making his absence from the roster surprising. Similarly, Schaefer's impressive rookie season, where he registered 25 points and is a solid plus-8 defensively, was not enough to earn him a spot.

Other significant players who missed out include Dallas Stars' Wyatt Johnston, Winnipeg Jets' Mark Scheifele, and Boston Bruins' Morgan Geekie. Sam Bennett, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner and part of last year's championship-winning squad, also faced exclusion, raising eyebrows among sports commentators.

A Team to Beat

Despite the absence of several elite players and some concerns regarding the goalie lineup, Canada continues to be viewed as the team to beat in the upcoming tournament. The squad will kick off its Olympic journey against Czechia on February 12, 2026, and fans are eager to see how this carefully crafted roster performs on the world stage.