The magnitude of playing for Team Canada at the Olympics was not lost on Travis Sanheim.

One could argue it’s the toughest hockey team to make in the world. So as the Flyers’ defenseman discussed his role with the Canadians, he made it clear he’d do anything in this opportunity.

“I’ll fill water bottles if they need me to,” Sanheim said a little over a week ago. “You’re going to the Olympics for Team Canada — it means a lot, it’s special.”

Flyers at the Olympics:

Rick Tocchet (Team Canada assistant), Travis Sanheim (Team Canada), Dan Vladar (Team Czechia) and Rasmus Ristolainen (Team Finland).

Rodrigo Abols (Team Latvia) will miss Olympics because of injury. pic.twitter.com/S4AID5VN78

— Jordan Hall (@JHallNBCS) February 5, 2026

Sanheim on Friday played his first game at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, recording a plus-2 rating in Team Canada’s 5-1 win over Team Switzerland. He drew into the lineup for Josh Morrissey, who suffered an undisclosed injury Thursday in the Canadians’ opener, a 5-0 win over Team Czechia.

Similar to last February, when Sanheim won gold with Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off, he got his chance after being a healthy scratch in Game 1.

“Just like the 4 Nations, I started out not playing and worked my way in,” Sanheim said. “Much of the same, just kind of whatever is asked of me, I’m going to accept and do. Ultimately, I just want the team to do well and have a chance to win gold.”

For the Flyers this season, Sanheim has six goals, 18 assists and a plus-2 rating in 56 games. He leads the club in minutes per game with 24:02.

“I didn’t know, honestly, that he was that good [until] I joined the team,” Dan Vladar, the Flyers’ goaltender who is playing for Team Czechia, said. “Once I joined, I can actually see how good of a player he is, how many minutes he can play every single night.”

Sanheim knows the type of honor it is to play for your country. He’s also representing Elkhorn, Manitoba, where he grew up on a farm.

“Especially where I come from, my population is a small-town community,” the 29-year-old said after making Team Canada’s roster. “I know that they’re super proud and supportive. … I never thought as a kid coming from a small town that I was even going to make the NHL, let alone the Olympics.”