Connor McDavid’s Wife Lauren (Getty Images) Connor McDavid wasted no time reminding the hockey world why he remains the most dangerous player on the planet. In Canada’s Olympic opener against Czechia on February 12, McDavid controlled the pace from his first shift and never let go. He drew an early power play, fired a team-high six shots, and finished with three assists in a commanding 5-0 win. The best player on the Edmonton Oilers quickly became the best player on Team Canada. That part felt inevitable.There has been real anticipation around men’s hockey heading into the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. The field is deep. The talent is elite. Every major hockey nation arrived believing it could win gold, just three years after Finland topped the podium in Beijing. Canada understands the pressure that comes with that history. On Thursday, McDavid embraced it and set a standard his teammates followed.
Connor McDavid shines on ice while Lauren Kyle steals spotlight in striking red ensemble
The game tilted in Canada’s favor late in the first period when McDavid threaded a smart pass to Macklin Celebrini to open the scoring. It was a subtle play, the kind that rewards patience and vision. Later, with the power play humming, he delivered a perfect saucer pass to Nathan MacKinnon to stretch the lead to 4-0. By the time he slid a crisp feed to Nick Suzuki for the fifth goal, Czechia looked drained.McDavid did not need to score to leave his mark. He dictated tempo, attacked open ice, and forced defenders into mistakes. Canada fed off that confidence. The puck moved quicker. The shifts felt sharper. It was only one game, but the message was clear.
Lauren Kyle McDavid’s February 12 Instagram story. (Instagram)
Support has followed McDavid overseas as well. His wife, Lauren Kyle, was in attendance and shared a glimpse of the buildup on Instagram before puck drop. She posted a photo of her maroon-red outfit, then followed it with a picture of her walking into the stadium, her purse matching the carpet beneath her feet. The caption read, “❤️🇨🇦”. The couple, who met in 2016 on a blind date arranged by her cousin Luke Gazdic, have been inseparable since.There is little time to linger on a strong start. Canada returns to the ice Friday at 3:10 p.m. ET against Switzerland. The tournament moves fast. So does McDavid.