Olympic Winter Video games Milano Cortina 2026: Group A preview

CANADA

Coach: Jon Cooper

Most latest medal: Bronze, 2018

Gold medals: 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932, 1948, 1952, 2002, 2010, 2014

Schedule: Feb. 12, Czechia (10:40 a.m. ET); Feb. 13, Switzerland (3:10 p.m. ET); Feb. 15, France (10:40 a.m. ET)

Outlook: As all the time, profitable gold is the aim and expectation for Team Canada. It has completed first in every of the previous 4 worldwide best-on-best tournaments; gold medals on the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2014 Sochi Olympics, on the World Cup of Hockey in 2016, and it captured the championship on the 4 Nations Face-Off one 12 months in the past. The Canadians are loaded with stars, led by facilities Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) and Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche), the highest two scorers within the NHL this season with 96 and 93 factors, respectively. Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks) is fourth within the NHL with 81 factors (28 objectives, 53 assists). The 19-year-old will grow to be the youngest NHL participant to play for Canada within the Olympics. Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar is tied for fourth within the NHL amongst defensemen with 57 factors (15 objectives, 42 assists). Two-time Olympic gold medalist Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins), who’s 38 years outdated, will reprise his position as Canada’s captain for the fourth straight best-on-best competitors. Nineteen of the 23 gamers who competed for Canada at 4 Nations are on the Olympic roster. Canada was even in a position to substitute injured Tampa Bay Lightning forwards Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli with two gamers who performed on the 4 Nations — Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers) and Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes). However, not surprisingly Canada’s largest query mark is in aim, though it has three Stanley Cup winners in Jordan Binnington (2019), Darcy Kuemper (2022) and Logan Thompson (2023). Binnington is the doubtless favourite to begin the match contemplating he led Canada to the championship on the 4 Nations Face-Off. However, he has struggled this season in 32 video games with the St. Louis Blues, posting eight wins, a 3.65 goals-against common and .864 save share. Binnington is final in all three classes among the many 12 Canada-born goalies who’ve appeared in no less than 20 NHL video games this season. Thompson has 19 wins, a 2.45 GAA and .912 save share in 39 video games with the Washington Capitals, and Kuemper has 14 wins, a 2.59 GAA and .900 save share in 36 video games with the Los Angeles Kings. “Everyone on the team is an unbelievable player, and they’ve all dealt with pressure and high-pressure moments, and everyone on Team Canada thrives under the pressure, so I don’t see that being an issue,” stated Kings defenseman Drew Doughty, a two-time Olympic gold medalist. “Yes, it’s a fail if we don’t win gold, but we’re going in there and we’re just going to play our butts off and whatever happens, happens.”