Hockey Canada has officially named the 25 players who will wear the maple leaf and compete for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy. The roster, a blend of established superstars and rising talent, was unveiled on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Star Power Headlines the Roster
The team is built around a core of elite players who were pre-selected in June 2025. This group is headlined by Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Cale Makar of the Colorado Avalanche. Their inclusion provides a foundation of world-class skill and veteran leadership for the Olympic campaign.
Notable Additions and Surprise Selections
Among the most talked-about final selections is 19-year-old phenom Macklin Celebrini. The San Jose Sharks forward, who is currently ranked in the top three for NHL scoring this season, will make his Olympic debut. Other key additions include Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, who is producing at a point-per-game pace for a second consecutive season, and Washington Capitals power forward Tom Wilson, who is on track for a career-best year in goals and points.
In goal, Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues returns to the Olympic stage. He will be backed up by Darcy Kuemper of the Los Angeles Kings and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals.
Significant Omissions Raise Eyebrows
The announcement also came with several noteworthy omissions that have sparked discussion among fans and analysts. Despite a strong season with 44 points in 31 games, Chicago Blackhawks sensation Connor Bedard did not make the final cut. Also left off the roster were Winnipeg Jets centre Mark Scheifele, a top-ten scorer in the league, and New York Islanders rookie defenceman Matthew Schaefer, who has emerged as one of the NHL's elite young blueliners this season.
Canada's first game of the Olympic tournament is scheduled for February 12, 2026, against Czechia. This marks the NHL's highly anticipated return to Olympic competition for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi.
The complete 25-player roster is as follows:
Forwards (14): Connor McDavid*, Nathan MacKinnon*, Sidney Crosby*, Sam Reinhart*, Brayden Point*, Macklin Celebrini, Anthony Cirelli, Brandon Hagel, Bo Horvat, Mitch Marner, Brad Marchand, Mark Stone, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson.
Defence (8): Cale Makar*, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore, Devon Toews, Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley.
Goalies (3): Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper, Logan Thompson.
*Players named to the team in June 2025.
