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NHL player news: Team Canada announces 2026 Olympic Roster
Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
By Jacob Fraser
Dec 31, 2025, 15:36 EST
It’s finally here!
Team Canada’s 25-man 2026 Olympic roster was announced earlier this morning. The squad features three goaltenders, eight defencemen, and 14 forwards who will be heading to Milan, Italy, to take part in the first Olympic Games featuring NHL players since 2014.
Among the players selected are former Vancouver Canucks captain Bo Horvat, along with North Vancouver, B.C., native and San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini.
All eight defencemen selected to represent Canada this year at the Olympics were also on Canada’s Four Nations Faceoff roster, while most notably, rookie defenceman and 2025 first overall pick Matthew Schaefer was left off the team, as well as Edmonton Oilers defenceman Evan Bouchard.
The netminders for Team Canada have a different look this year than they did at Four Nations, with Jordan Binnington being the only returnee, while Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson have been added to the Olympic roster. This leaves Comox, B.C. native Adin Hill and Montreal Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault off after being a part of the goaltending trio last February for Canada.
The new additions up front for Canada from the Four Nations Faceoff roster are Celebrini, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson and Bo Horvat. While some other notable forwards left off Team Canada’s roster are Conn Smythe Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champ Sam Bennett and North Vancouver, B.C., native Connor Bedard.
Only two of Team Canada’s roster have prior Olympic hockey experience, with both Sidney Crosby and Drew Doughty having played in the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games as well as in Sochi in 2014.
Team Canada’s group for the Olympic Games will feature Czechia, Switzerland and France, with their first game of the tournament scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 12th, at 7:40 AM PT, against Czechia.
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