The new year in 2026 is set to bring a return to the Olympics for NHL players. While the NHL will pause the season for just over two weeks in February, there will be no break for one Flyers defenseman.
Travis Sanheim was named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster on Wednesday.
Sanheim, 29, has three goals and 17 points in 38 games this season, but has really become the go-to guy on the blue line for all situations. Sanheim started to turn heads over the last couple of seasons, eventually earning his spot on Canada’s roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. That roster was seen as a blueprint of sorts for what was to come with the Olympics in 2026, and now Sanheim is joining that group.
Sanheim and teammate Travis Konecny took home gold at 4 Nations. Sanheim was joined by Konecny and Tyson Foerster for Team Canada at World Championships in 2025. Canada did not medal in that tournament after a quarterfinals loss to Denmark.
Sanheim is the second Flyers player to make an Olympic roster. Rodrigo Abols will play for Team Latvia in the Olympics, announced as one of the first six players in June. Additionally, Sanheim will have a familiar face behind the bench, as Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet serves as an assistant on Jon Cooper’s staff.
Wednesday marked the deadline to submit Olympic rosters, so future announcements from the other nations will come in the next few days. Team USA will be announcing on Friday. Sweden and Finland are also expected to announce this week. The NHL’s Olympic break runs from Feb. 6 to Feb. 24.
Kevin Durso is Flyers insider for 97.3 ESPN. Follow him on social media @Kevin_Durso.
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