Key Highlights
- Macklin Celebrini is included in the Team Canada roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.
- Team Canada’s first group of NHL players to represent the country at the Olympics since 2014.
- The roster includes veterans like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, alongside younger talents such as Celebrini.
- Goalies Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson join Jordan Binnington on the Olympic team.
New Stars Shine for Team Canada at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
The roster for Team Canada’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, has been revealed with a mix of seasoned veterans and promising new faces. One standout is Macklin Celebrini, a 19-year-old from North Vancouver who has made an impressive transition from his rookie season with the San Jose Sharks into Olympic contention.
“I had the opportunity to meet him; it might have been his fifth or sixth NHL game,” said Doug Armstrong, Canada’s general manager. “It’s a story I think I’ve shared with some of you that they were playing in St. Louis.
I went down before the game and introduced myself and said, ‘You’re not on the radar likely for the 4 Nations, but the Olympics are coming up, and we’re going to watch you.’ And he proceeded to have, I think, four points that night.”
Since then, Celebrini has flourished. His performance earned him a place in the roster along with other NHL stars like Bo Horvat, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson, Darcy Kuemper, and Logan Thompson.
Team Canada’s Olympic Lineup – A Blend of Experience and Youth
The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature all 12 teams competing in three preliminary games. Team Canada is in Group A and will face Team Czechia on February 12, then play Team Switzerland on February 13, and Team France on February 15.
Forwards Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay Lightning), Bo Horvat (New York Islanders), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers), Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning), Sam Reinhart (Florida Panthers), Mark Stone (Vegas Golden Knights), and Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens) form the forward group. Tom Wilson adds a physical edge to this formidable lineup.
The defensemen include Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings), Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets), Colton Parayko (St.
Louis Blues), Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers), Shea Theodore (Vegas Golden Knights), and Devon Toews (Colorado Avalanche).
Goalies Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings), and Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals) round out the roster.
The Road Ahead for Team Canada
Canada’s first group of NHL players to represent the country at the Olympics since 2014 brings both excitement and pressure. With a strong mix of veterans like Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid, and promising talents such as Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada aims to make a statement on the global stage.
“As always, it goes down to the last couple of days,” Armstrong said. “The process worked very well. Our last major meeting with our management group was in early December, I would say.
We walked out of that meeting with 12 forwards in consensus, seven defensemen and two goalies.”
The gold medal game is set for February 22, but the journey starts on February 12 as Team Canada takes on Team Czechia. The tournament structure ensures that every team will face challenges, making the road to Milan a thrilling one.
