Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl and Boston Bruins forward David Pastrňák have been selected as flag bearers for Germany and Czechia, respectively, at the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milano-Cortina. Draisaitl earned the honor through a public and athlete vote, marking his Olympic debut. This selection highlights the return of NHL players to the Games after a 12-year absence.
The announcements came on Wednesday, underscoring the excitement surrounding the NHL's participation in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, the first since the 2014 Sochi Games. For Germany, Draisaitl, a two-time NHL MVP and the highest-scoring German-born player in league history with 1,034 points in 844 games, won a vote among active German Olympians and the public. Over 135,000 people participated in the poll, where he edged out luge star Tobias Wendl, a six-time Olympic gold medalist, and Nordic combined athlete Johannes Rydzek, who has two golds from 2018. Draisaitl will carry the flag alongside ski jumper Katharina Schmid during the ceremony.
"Hey Oil Country and Canada," Draisaitl said in a video message. "Thank you so much for voting for me as a flag-bearer for Team Germany at the Olympics. Such an incredible honor. I feel so proud and lucky I get to do that and it's all thanks to you guys, so thank you very much. Looking forward to Italy."
Similarly, Pastrňák, third all-time among Czechia-born NHL players with 903 points in 807 games, was chosen to represent his country with biathlete Lucie Charvátová. The 29-year-old Bruins star expressed his pride: "Wow. I am extremely proud and happy. It will be a great honor for me. I am looking forward to having a chance to represent our country along with all other athletes. Wonderful."
The opening ceremony is set for Friday, February 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. ET in Milano, with additional events in Predazzo, Livigno, and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Both players are performing strongly this season—Draisaitl with 78 points in 54 games for the Oilers, and Pastrňák with 70 points in 51 for the Bruins—before heading to the Olympics after their teams' final pre-break games on Wednesday.
In the tournament, Czechia faces Canada, Switzerland, and France in Group A, starting February 12 against Canada. Germany, in Group C with Latvia, the United States, and Denmark, opens against Denmark on the same day. These selections reflect the global impact of NHL talent on international hockey.
