Canada Unveils Superstar-Loaded Training Camp Roster for 2026 Olympics originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Hockey Canada has officially opened its path to the 2026 Winter Olympics by naming 92 players across its men’s, women’s and para programs to a national orientation camp, scheduled for Aug. 26–28 in Calgary.
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Among those 92 players, there are 42 NHL players, split into three positional groups, including 26 forwards, 13 defensemen and three goaltenders.
“We are excited to unveil the 92 athletes who will kick off the road to Italy, and to bring our men’s, women’s and para hockey teams together for three days as the first step towards our goal of winning triple gold in February,” Hockey Canada staffer Scott Salmond said.
Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon Lead Deep Olympic Pool
Among the 42 NHL players invited to the men’s off-ice session are superstars Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon — headlining what may become the deepest Canadian Olympic roster in years.
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Joining the veteran trio are several young up-and-coming stars, including 20-year-old Connor Bedard and 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini — back-to-back first-overall NHL draft picks in 2023 and 2024.
Other NHL franchise cornerstones like John Tavares, Nick Suzuki, Brad Marchand, Cale Makar and Drew Doughty round out a diverse group of proven leaders mixed with emerging talent.
Familiar Faces Join Core of Victorious 4 Nations Team
Doug Armstrong, president of hockey operations for the St. Louis Blues, is leading Canada’s roster selection, while the Tampa Bay Lightning’ head coach’s Jon Cooper will serve as head coach for Team Canada next winter.
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“(These players) carry our hopes and pride as we look ahead to Italy,” Hockey Canada CEO Katherine Henderson said.
Team Canada forward Connor McDavid (97) before the 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey championship game.Winslow Townson-Imagn Images
All 24 players who helped Canada win the first 4 Nations Face-Off in February have been included in the preliminary Olympic roster.
That includes the trio of netminders — Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill and Sam Montembeault — as well as forwards Brayden Point, Sam Reinhart and Mark Stone, among others.
Olympic Training Camp Is Crucial for Team Canada
Though participation in the Calgary event doesn’t guarantee a roster spot, it offers Hockey Canada a key reference point to know where things stand less than six months from the start of the tournament.
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The final rosters are due Dec. 31, and the men’s tourney is set for Feb. 11–22 in Milan. Decisions made this summer could influence everything from line chemistry to leadership structure, and players who didn’t make the cut for the training camp roster can still make the final Olympic roster.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will also mark the first time NHL players will participate in Olympic hockey since 2014.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 2, 2025, where it first appeared.