Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier has secured a prestigious spot on the international stage, earning a final roster position for Team France at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milano Cortina.
Texier Completes French Olympic Roster
On Tuesday, the French ice hockey federation finalized its men's Olympic team, with Alexandre Texier named as the last addition. The remainder of the squad was announced in December, but Texier's inclusion was delayed due to an agreement with the National Hockey League. His selection is particularly notable as he is the only Frenchman currently playing in the NHL.
This means the 24-year-old winger will join fellow Canadiens Nick Suzuki, Juraj Slafkovsky, and Oliver Kapanen at the global sporting event next month. While his Montreal teammates will represent Canada and Slovakia, Texier will carry the flag for his home nation.
A Journey from France to the NHL and the Olympics
Born in Saint-Martin-d'Hères, France, Texier's hockey journey began in his home country's top league with Grenoble. His talent was recognized internationally when the Columbus Blue Jackets drafted him in the second round (45th overall) in 2017. After establishing himself in North America, he joined the Montreal Canadiens as a free agent in November.
Since arriving in Montreal, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound forward has made a solid contribution. In 20 games with the Canadiens, he has recorded 3 goals and 5 assists, maintaining a +1 rating. In a recent statement about his play, Texier emphasized his work ethic, saying, "I'm trying to show up every single night and work really hard and play the right way defensively."
France's Olympic Hockey Hopes
Texier will not be alone in bringing NHL experience to the French blue, white, and red. He will be joined on the roster by former NHL players, including veterans Pierre-Édouard Bellemare and Stephane Da Costa, who will provide leadership and experience to the squad.
The announcement of the complete French roster was celebrated by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) on social media, highlighting Texier as the team's biggest star.
In other Olympic roster news with a Canadiens connection, goaltender Jakub Dobes did not make the final cut for Team Czechia. The Czech team selected three other NHL netminders: Lukas Dostal, Daniel Vladar, and Karel Vejmelka.
The 2026 Winter Olympics are scheduled for February 6-22. The hockey tournament will mark a significant return, as it will be the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games that NHL players are permitted to participate. Canada, which won gold in Sochi, will begin its campaign on February 12 in Milan against Czechia.
For Alexandre Texier, the selection is a proud milestone, representing his country on one of sports' grandest stages while continuing his first season with the historic Montreal Canadiens.
