The stage is set for a blockbuster revival of Olympic ice hockey, as the United States and Canada have unveiled men's teams packed with National Hockey League superstars for the 2026 Winter Games in Milano-Cortina. This marks the highly anticipated return of the world's best players to the Olympic tournament after a 12-year absence.
End of the NHL Olympic Hiatus Sparks Renaissance
The NHL has not permitted its athletes to participate in the Olympics since the 2014 Sochi Games, significantly diminishing the star power of the men's tournaments in Pyeongchang 2018 and Beijing 2022. This year, that changes dramatically. The return of top-tier NHL talent is predicted to spark a global renaissance for the sport, with broadcasters and fans eagerly awaiting a clash of titans.
"NHL players bring a level of star power that elevates everything. It’s not just hockey - it’s hockey with the best players in the world," said Molly Solomon, executive producer and president for NBC’s Olympics and Paralympics Production. The rivalry between North American powerhouses, which dominate the NHL's roster, is expected to be a centrepiece of the Games.
Star-Studded Rosters Revealed
The 25-man US team will be spearheaded by Toronto Maple Leafs phenomenon Auston Matthews, alongside Vegas Golden Knights centre Jack Eichel and Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes. Their squad draws heavily from the group that competed in the NHL's 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in early 2025.
Notably, only three players from that event—Tage Thompson, Clayton Keller, and Seth Jones—were new additions to the Olympic roster announced on the Today show. The management group, led by General Manager Bill Guerin and coach Mike Sullivan, prioritised experience, leading to the omission of high-scoring Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson.
North of the border, Canada's squad is a constellation of generational talent, featuring the iconic Sidney Crosby, the electrifying Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, and Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon. Like the Americans, Canada has also selected a roster weighted with participants from the 4 Nations Face-Off.
The stakes are immense. The US men last won gold in the fabled "Miracle on Ice" year of 1980, while Canada were champions in 2010 and 2014. USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher has boldly predicted a gold medal sweep for the US across men's, women's, and Paralympic competitions. "We don’t take a back seat to anybody in hockey anymore," Kelleher declared.
New Era for Women's Hockey Led by Veteran Knight
The US women's team, also unveiled, will be captained by the legendary Hilary Knight. The 36-year-old will set an American record by appearing in her fifth Winter Olympics, having won gold in 2018 and three silver medals.
This Games marks a new chapter as the first Olympics since the launch of the professional Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) in 2024. The US roster features 16 current PWHL players, with only 11 returnees from the silver-medal team in Beijing. A historic inclusion is 21-year-old Wisconsin senior Laila Edwards, who will become the first Black women’s player to represent the US in Winter Olympic hockey.
Rocky Harris, chief of sport and athlete services for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, emphasised the significance of the NHL's return: "We’re thrilled that NHL is back in the Games. We think that’s going to do a lot, not only for the sport of hockey, but for our country to get excited about the Games."
The men's tournament begins on 12 February 2026 with the USA facing Latvia, while the women's team starts their campaign against Czechia on 5 February. All eyes will be on Italy for what promises to be a spectacular festival of the world's best ice hockey.
