Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe has been added to the U.S. men's ice hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, replacing Florida Panthers defenseman Seth Jones, who is sidelined by an upper-body injury. The injury occurred during the NHL Winter Classic on January 2. LaCombe, a 25-year-old who helped the U.S. win gold at the 2025 IIHF World Championship, expressed excitement about joining the roster.
Seth Jones, a 31-year-old defenseman for the Florida Panthers, will miss the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 due to an upper-body injury sustained in the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic at loanDepot park in Miami on January 2. At 7:54 of the first period, Jones was struck near his left collarbone by a shot from New York Rangers forward Alexis Lafreniere, which deflected off the stick of Panthers defenseman Niko Mikkola. Jones has recorded 24 points (six goals, 18 assists) in 40 games this season. Panthers coach Paul Maurice commented on Jones' status, noting, “There was originally a week-to-week idea. Then it was 2-4 [weeks] or whatever, but it will be the full extent of that.”
USA Hockey announced on January 21 that Anaheim Ducks defenseman Jackson LaCombe, 25, from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, will replace Jones. LaCombe has 31 points (six goals, 25 assists) in 49 games this season and 91 points (22 goals, 69 assists) in 197 career regular-season games. Selected 39th overall by Anaheim in the 2019 NHL Draft, he played four seasons at the University of Minnesota, serving as alternate captain in his final year (2019-23). LaCombe contributed to U.S. gold medals at the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship— the first since 1933—and the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship, though he did not participate in last season's 4 Nations Face-Off.
LaCombe received the news from U.S. general manager Bill Guerin. “Just got a call last night from (U.S. general manager) Bill (Guerin),” LaCombe said. “And, obviously, it was an unfortunate situation that happened (Jones' injury), but he just told me I was on the team now. Obviously, anytime you get to do that, it's so special, and I would take so much pride in wearing that jersey and being part of it.” He added that he knows teammates like Brock Faber from their time at Minnesota and is eager to join the group.
Ducks coach Joel Quenneville praised the selection: “I think everybody's happy for him. He's a very likable kid, and it's a big opportunity. He had a little bit of an opportunity last year at the World Championships and did a nice job.”
Team USA, in Group C, opens the tournament against Latvia on February 12 at 9:10 p.m. local time in Milan, followed by Denmark on February 14 and Germany on February 15. The 12-team event features three preliminary games per group, with the gold-medal game on February 22. The United States last won Olympic men's hockey gold in 1980 at Lake Placid.
