Canada’s men’s and women’s hockey teams announced ahead of Olympics

Nathan MacKinnon, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid during the 4 Nation Face-Off last February. (Credit: Christinne Muschi/Canadian Press)

Both of Canada’s men’s and women’s hockey teams were announced earlier this month for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano and Cortina, Italy. 

This is the first time the National Hockey League players are allowed to compete since Sochi in 2014, also making it the first to feature players from the Professional Women’s Hockey League. 

The men's stopped participating due to a myriad of issues, including insurance, travel costs and commercial licensing costs, among others.

According to ESPN, these issues were addressed in an agreement the NHL and the National Hockey League Players' Association signed with the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee back in July 2025.

Men’s team

The men’s team will be led by Canada’s most decorated player, Sidney Crosby. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Team Canada’s 4 Nations Face-Off captain is best known in the Olympics for his overtime goal in Vancouver 2010 for gold over their American rivals. 

Joining him in leadership roles will be familiar faces Nathan MacKinnon and Connor McDavid. Both players will be participating in their first Olympics. MacKinnon won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022, while the Edmonton Oilers’ McDavid scored the tournament-winning overtime goal for Canada in the 4 Nations. 

“We believe this is the best team we could select,” said Doug Armstrong, team general manager. “We’re not building this team to beat any one team. We want to build a roster that can compete against anybody.”

New additions to the squad include Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki, New York Islanders alternate captain Bo Horvat and San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini. All three centremen are known for their two-way style of play and work ethic.

All of the defencemen who wore the leaf in the 4 Nations will return for the Olympics. 

This will be Los Angeles Kings player and two-time Stanley Cup winner Drew Doughty’s third Olympics.  

Goaltending will be covered by the controversial St. Louis Blues netminder Jordan Binnington, along with Washington Capitol Logan Thompson.

“When we selected all the players, we look at their recent play, and we look at their resume, and Jordan Binnington's resume speaks for itself," said Armstrong on the decision. “I think what everyone saw from him at the 4 Nations cemented his legacy for this tournament.”

Team Canada women's captain Marie-Philip Poulin after winning gold at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. (Credit: Mark Blinch/Canadian Olympic Committee)

Women’s team

Highlighting the women’s team are Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Vancouver Goldeneyes alternate captain Sarah Nurse. Both forwards have won Olympic gold in the past. Poulin has won three, while Nurse has won one.

Defence duties will be headed by Toronto Sceptres alternate captain Renata Fast and Victoire alternate captain Erin Ambrose. Both have had impressive careers at the point with 26 and 27 assists, respectively. 

Victoire goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens, Goldeneyes goalie Emerance Maschmeyer and New York Sirens goalie Kayle Osborne will guard the net. 

“Paring down the roster to the final group to represent Canada is always a challenging process,” said Gina Kingsbury, women's team general manager, in a news release from Hockey Canada.

In total, 16 players on the team are returning from the gold-winning squad that beat the Americans in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Their biggest threat is the U.S. team, which defeated Canada in the four-game Rivalry Series last fall. The U.S. also beat Canada 4-3 in overtime during the 2025 World Championship.