Canada revealed a 25-player men’s hockey roster for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Dec. 31, 2025, selecting a mix of veteran leaders and rising stars. The squad, which includes 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini and New York Islanders center Bo Horvat, will open Group A play against Czechia on Feb. 12 in Milan. The roster marks the first time NHL players will represent Canada at the Olympics since 2014, and features established superstars alongside several players who did not travel to February’s 4 Nations Face-Off. Team management named a 14-forward, eight-defenseman and three-goalie contingent with the No. 1 goaltender role left unresolved heading into the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Canada announced a 25-player roster on Dec. 31, 2025, for Milano Cortina 2026, with the opener vs. Czechia on Feb. 12.
- Forwards (14): roster highlights include Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Connor McDavid (Edmonton) and Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado).
- Defensemen (8): the group is unchanged from the 4 Nations Face-Off and is led by Cale Makar and Drew Doughty.
- Goalies (3): Jordan Binnington, Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson were named; the starting goalie in Milan is not yet decided.
- Six players — Celebrini, Horvat, Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson, Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson — did not play for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off.
- Canada’s preliminary schedule: Czechia (Feb. 12), Switzerland (Feb. 13) and France (Feb. 15); gold-medal game scheduled for Feb. 22.
- The tournament format gives each of 12 teams three group games; group winners and the top second-place team advance directly to quarterfinals.
Background
Hockey Canada assembled this roster amid renewed negotiations between the NHL and the International Olympic Committee over player participation; the result is the first NHL-backed Canadian Olympic team since Sochi 2014. That return of NHL talent reshapes expectations — national teams can again build lineups around established league stars rather than relying primarily on Europe-based professionals and prospects that populated recent non-NHL events. The decision to include a mix of veterans and high-end younger players reflects a double aim: medal contention now and a degree of future planning for post-2026 cycles.
Canada used the 4 Nations Face-Off in February as a partial evaluation ground but left room to adjust. Eight defensemen named to Milan are the same that skated in that tournament; meanwhile, several forwards and two goalies were swapped out. Team management prioritised skating, transition play and faceoff efficiency — attributes reflected in selections such as Horvat, noted for a 57.8% faceoff win rate among qualifying NHL players, and dynamic puck-carriers like McDavid and Makar.
Main Event
The roster lists 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Forwards include Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights) and Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers). The forward unit blends proven scorers and play drivers with younger talent to sustain pace and physicality across the tournament’s compressed schedule.
On the blue line, Canada kept the same eight defensemen who featured at the 4 Nations Face-Off: Drew Doughty, Thomas Harley, Cale Makar, Josh Morrissey, Colton Parayko, Travis Sanheim, Shea Theodore and Devon Toews. The continuity signals confidence in defensive pairings and transition systems deployed earlier in 2025, with Makar continuing to serve as the group’s offensive catalyst and puck-mover.
The goaltending trio of Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues), Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles Kings) and Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals) presents a mix of recent international experience and fluctuating club form. Binnington backstopped Canada to the 4 Nations title but has struggled at times for St. Louis this season; Kuemper and Thompson have offered steadier club play, leaving selection of a primary starter in Milan an open tactical question for coaches.
Analysis & Implications
Canada’s roster construction emphasizes elite top-end skill and transition speed while incorporating players who can sustain physical play and defensive zone structure. With Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon on the top lines, opponents will need to account for elite metabolic pace and playmaking; supporting forwards such as Crosby, Reinhart and Marner should supply secondary scoring and special-teams depth. That balance increases Canada’s probability of finishing atop Group A and securing a more direct path through the knockout phase.
On defense, keeping the 4 Nations group intact reduces disruption to pairings and systems, which is valuable in a short tournament where chemistry matters. Cale Makar’s role as the offensive fulcrum from the back end amplifies Canada’s chance to control transition and power-play tempo. Drew Doughty brings veteran playoff and Olympic experience that can be decisive in tight medal-round games.
Goaltending remains the principal variable. Binnington’s 4 Nations performance argues for trust, but his uneven NHL season complicates selection. If Kuemper or Thompson can deliver consistent starts, Canada may benefit from a hot-net approach — riding a single form goalie through tournament play — or use a tandem strategically depending on opponent and rest. The coaching staff’s choice will shape Canada’s margin for error in single-elimination games.
Comparison & Data
| Position | Count |
|---|---|
| Forwards | 14 |
| Defensemen | 8 |
| Goalies | 3 |
The roster mirrors a standard Olympic allocation (14-8-3) and concentrates NHL talent across top lines and power-play units. Compared with the 2014 Olympic roster — the last NHL-enabled Canadian team — this group skews younger in spots (Celebrini, Suzuki) while preserving signature veterans (Crosby, Doughty). That blend addresses both immediate medal aspirations and depth across a seven-to-ten day event schedule.
Reactions & Quotes
Officials framed the announcement as a return to NHL-era Olympic competition and a chance to field Canada’s top talent.
Hockey Canada highlighted the roster’s mix of experience and youth as central to medal ambitions in Milan.
Hockey Canada (official release)
Observers noted that Celebrini’s inclusion at 19 underscores his rapid rise and the organization’s willingness to deploy elite young forwards in major international events.
Analysts pointed to Celebrini’s breakout second NHL season as a key reason for his selection to the Olympic squad.
NHL.com (news report)
Club and league representatives emphasized the significance of NHL participation for tournament quality and fan interest.
The return of NHL players to the Olympics was described as restoring the highest level of international competition to Milan.
NHL stakeholders (media statements)
Unconfirmed
- The identity of Canada’s starting goaltender in the opening game on Feb. 12 has not been announced and may depend on practices and travel-day evaluations.
- Line combinations and defensive pairings for the first Olympic game are pending final practice reports and were not released with the roster.
- Any last-minute injuries or illness-related replacements prior to team departure to Milan remain possible and were not reported at the time of the roster announcement.
Bottom Line
Canada’s 25-player selection for Milano Cortina 2026 blends high-end NHL talent with younger prospects, producing a roster that looks capable of contending for gold. The mix of elite forwards, an established defensive group from the 4 Nations Face-Off and three NHL-seasoned goalies offers flexibility but also leaves a critical decision on the starting netminder unresolved.
How Team Canada manages goaltending and line deployment in the tournament’s short, intense sequence of games will likely determine whether the squad secures favourable seeding into the knockout rounds and sustains a medal run. Fans should watch pre-tournament practices and coach announcements for clues about starting assignments and special-teams strategies.