Hockey Canada announced its 25-player roster for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina on December 31, blending young stars and seasoned veterans. The team features 16 Stanley Cup winners and 19 players from the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off champions. Macklin Celebrini, a 19-year-old San Jose Sharks forward, joins legends like Sidney Crosby for the NHL's return to Olympics since 2014.
The roster reveal in Calgary highlighted a mix of experience and emerging talent, with only two players—Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings—having prior Olympic experience from 2010 and 2014. Crosby, the 38-year-old Penguins captain from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, is Canada's most decorated player, having captained Triple Gold Club wins including the 2010 Olympic gold with his famous overtime goal against the U.S. Doughty, 36, from London, Ontario, adds two Olympic golds and two Stanley Cups from 2012 and 2014 with the Kings.
Among the forwards, Celebrini, a Vancouver native and former Boston University standout, earned his spot after a stellar sophomore NHL season with 60 points (21 goals, 39 assists) in 39 games for the Sharks. He follows in the footsteps of Terrier Olympians like Jack Eichel and Charlie McAvoy on Team USA. Other key forwards include Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, who led the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off with four goals and MVP honors; Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, the three-time Hart Trophy winner; and Brad Marchand of the Florida Panthers, a two-time Cup champion.
The defense features Norris Trophy winners Cale Makar of the Avalanche and Doughty, alongside Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets and Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights, a 2023 Cup winner. Goalies Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues, Darcy Kuemper of the Kings, and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals round out the group, with Binnington starting all games for Canada's 4 Nations victory.
Canada opens against Latvia on February 12 in Group C, aiming to reclaim Olympic gold last won in 2014. The team, coached by Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning, emphasizes a complete roster focused on checking and size, as noted by general manager Doug Armstrong.
