Team USA's men's hockey squad arrived in Milan and held its first practice on Sunday ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. Forward Jack Hughes participated fully despite a recent lower-body injury, while Auston Matthews was named captain with Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk as alternates. The group, bolstered by a strong defensive core, aims to end a 46-year gold medal drought.
The United States men's hockey team touched down in Milan on Sunday morning after an overnight charter flight from New York, marking the NHL's return to the Olympics after a 12-year absence. At Santagiulia Arena, the players conducted a brisk 30-minute practice focused on shaking off travel fatigue, with no formal lines or pairings revealed yet. Coach Mike Sullivan emphasized that decisions, including the starting goalie for Thursday's opener against Latvia (3:10 p.m. ET, Peacock, USA), would be based on performance.
A key highlight was Jack Hughes' full participation, alleviating concerns after he missed the New Jersey Devils' final three games before the break due to a lower-body injury sustained January 29 against Nashville. The 24-year-old center, who has 387 points (153 goals, 234 assists) in 404 NHL games, stated, “Feel good. Feel good. Body feels in a good spot.” His brother, Quinn Hughes, a Norris Trophy winner traded to the Minnesota Wild on December 12, expressed relief: “Injuries are tough... No one hates missing games more than him.” The siblings are rooming together in the Olympic Village, joined by their father Jim on the flight, adding a family element to the trip.
Auston Matthews, the Toronto Maple Leafs captain and league's leading U.S.-born scorer with 427 goals, was appointed Team USA captain, retaining the role from last year's 4 Nations Face-Off where the U.S. earned silver. Alternates McAvoy and Tkachuk, both 28, bring proven leadership; McAvoy recently recovered from an elbow to the face, while Tkachuk returned from August surgery. General manager Bill Guerin noted their chemistry from prior internationals, including 2015 U-18 gold. Matthews called it “very special” to represent his country at the Olympics.
Practice offered glimpses of potential lines: Matthews centering Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy, with Jack Eichel between the Tkachuk brothers. Defensively, pairings hinted at Quinn Hughes with McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin with Brock Faber, Noah Hanifin with Zach Werenski, and Jake Sanderson with Jackson LaCombe (replacing injured Seth Jones). The blue line, featuring four top-10 Norris finishers, is hailed for depth and versatility. Zach Werenski, second in defenseman scoring with 62 points, said the group represents “the deepest pool to pick from that the U.S. has probably ever had.” Forward Matthew Tkachuk captured the excitement: “My excitement level has completely taken over for my lack of sleep.”
With 21 of 25 roster players from 4 Nations, familiarity aids the short preparation. The U.S. faces Denmark and Germany in round-robin play, targeting gold not won since 1980's Miracle on Ice.
