The return of ice hockey’s biggest stars to the Winter Games could spark a renaissance for the sport on the global stage, as gold-medal favorites United States and Canada handpicked top NHL talent for the Milano-Cortina Olympics.
The National Hockey League has not permitted its athletes to participate in the Games since 2014, putting a damper on the men’s Olympic ice hockey tournament as the world’s best players were forced to stay home in 2018 and 2022.
This year, however, celebrity sheen and extraordinary talent return to the Olympic ice hockey tournament as Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes will lead the 25-man US team, while Canada’s squad includes Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon.
“NHL players bring a level of star power that elevates everything. It’s not just hockey – it’s hockey with the best players in the world,” said Molly Solomon, executive producer & president, for NBC’s Olympics and Paralympics Production.
North American players make up the majority of the NHL, with hockey-mad Canada leading the pack and their longtime foes United States second, setting the chance for one of Olympic hockey’s great rivalries to renew in Milan.
Broadcasters will hope to make the most of that opportunity, after a politically charged 4 Nations Face-Off final between the United States and Canada delivered a record 9.3m viewers on ESPN last year.
“A USA-Canada medal-round matchup? That’s appointment viewing,” Solomon told Reuters.
“With NHL players back and the buzz from the 4 Nations tournament, hockey becomes one of those tentpole events that everyone talks about.”
The United States men have not won gold since the 1980 tournament that featured their “Miracle on Ice” triumph over the USSR and pre-dated the NHL’s participation in the Games by 18 years.
Canada most recently won the tournament in 2010 and 2014.
The United States filled out their 2022 team with collegiate talent and players competing in international leagues after the NHL abruptly pulled out weeks before the Beijing Games.
But the availability of American NHL players will be a game-changer, said USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher, who boldly predicted a US gold medal sweep across the men’s, women’s and Paralympic competitions.
“What this means is we get our best players,” Kelleher told reporters during a recent “Inside Edge” media summit hosted by Aggregate Sports.
“We don’t take a back seat to anybody in hockey anymore.” The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee welcomed 44 players from 24 different NHL teams to a camp in August, after the US men’s team picked up their first world championship gold medal in 92 years in May.
While the US roster contains just two returnees from the 2022 Beijing Games, thanks to the long NHL hiatus, the USOPC has taken a “hands-off approach” to the men’s team, according to Rocky Harris, the NGB’s chief of sport and athlete services.
“We’re thrilled that NHL is back in the Games. We think that’s going to do a lot, not only for the sport of hockey, but for our country to get excited about the Games in a way that we haven’t seen in quite some time,” Harris said at a recent USOPC media summit.
“Now it’s about the right coaching and the right game plan. And USA Hockey has that in place right now.”
US men’s team pick 4 Nations-heavy roster for Olympics
Tage Thompson and Clayton Keller helped the US win the world hockey championship for the first time since 1933, while Seth Jones was a key part of the Florida Panthers’ second consecutive Stanley Cup run.
Those contributions earned them a spot on the S. team at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics as the only three additions from the 4 Nations Face-Off early last year.
USA Hockey unveiled its roster Friday on the Today show, with a vast majority of it made up of players who took part in the NHL-run international tournament in February, when the Americans made the final before losing to Canada in overtime. The only ones not back from the 4 Nations are forward Chris Kreider and former New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox.
“It was incredibly difficult for our management group to get to the final roster and that’s a credit to so many in our country, including all those at the grassroots level who help make our sport so strong,” general manager Bill Guerin said. “There’s nothing like the Olympics and I know our players and staff will represent our country well and work hard to achieve our ultimate goal.”
Keller, who’s captain of the Utah Mammoth and tied for their lead in scoring, wore the “C” at worlds. Thompson, who plays for the Buffalo Sabres, was a point-a-game producer.
Hillary Knight will set an American record in her sport with her fifth Winter Olympics appearance after winning gold in 2018 and three silver medals. Photograph: David W Černý/Reuters
The US followed Canada’s lead after its northern neighbor also chose a 4 Nations-heavy roster. But while Canada made some changes in net beyond starter Jordan Binnington, the Americans went with the same three goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman.
Left off were Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, who’s leads US players in points this season, and a couple other elite goal scorers, Cole Caufield and Alex DeBrincat.
Guerin and his management staff, along with coach Mike Sullivan, prioritized experience and players they knew well. That meant sticking with depth forwards Vincent Trocheck and Brock Nelson over Robertson and others.
Teams are allowed 25 players at the Olympics, up from 23 at the 4 Nations, and can dress 20 skaters – typically 13 forwards and seven defenseman, along with two goalies. The first US men’s game is 12 February against Latvia.
Knight leads US women’s Olympic hockey roster
Olympic veteran Hilary Knight leads the US women’s hockey team, also unveiled on Friday for the Milano Cortina Games.
Knight, 36, will set an American record in her sport with her fifth Winter Olympics appearance after winning gold in 2018 and three silver medals.
The 23-member Team USA roster features only 11 returning members of the silver medal-winning team from 2022 in Beijing. The roster includes 16 current PWHL players.
Newcomers include 21-year-old Wisconsin senior Laila Edwards, who will become the first Black women’s player to represent the US in the Winter Games.
“It still hasn’t really kicked in yet. Getting that call is like a dream come true,” Edwards said, per the Associated Press. “Always had dreams of playing in the pros, but the biggest dream was to go the Olympics, for sure.”
Coached by John Wroblewski, the US are considered the favorite for gold. The Americans open play against Czechia on 5 February and the championship game is scheduled for 19 February.
These are the first Olympics since the PWHL began play in 2024, with the now eight-team league expected to make an impact by raising the level of international competition and bridging the gap among nations trailing the two global powers US and Canada.
The US roster features 16 PWHL players.
