Dr. Ian Auld, the medical director for the Calgary Flames, is heading to the Olympics in Italy next month to work as a physician with Canada’s men’s hockey team.

“It’s starting to get real and starting to get exciting,” Auld said.

His wife, Dr. Laura Bennion, is already in Europe because she’s taking on the role of doctor for Canada’s women’s hockey team.

“I’m sort of pinching myself now,” Bennion said. “It’s every day getting more and more real.”

The road to the Olympics has been a long one.

Both Auld and Bennion went to medical school at the University of British Columbia.

They began dating while on residency in Calgary in 1999 before getting married in 2003.

2026 Olympics: Calgary couple serving as doctors for Team Canada Dr. Ian Auld and Dr. Laura Bennion. (Supplied)

“I was good friends with her for all of medical school,” Auld said. “The spark hit in the fourth year and went to another level.”

Auld is now entering his 11th season with the Flames

He’s worked with Hockey Canada on events for 22 years now.

His first experience was the U18 Summer World Championship, which featured Sydney Crosby.

This year will mark Auld’s first time working at the Olympics.

2026 Olympics: Calgary couple serving as doctors for Team Canada Dr. Ian Auld with Blake Coleman.

Bennion has worked more than 13 years in family practice, while also doing work in low-risk obstetrics and sports medicine. She spent time with for the Calgary Inferno and with Hockey Canada’s elite women’s hockey program.

“It’s kind of interesting that we’ve both ended up with our respective teams this time around,” she said. “The pathway for each of us has been parallel… it hasn’t really crisscrossed.”

The couple has two children; Evan, who plays junior hockey for the Yorkton Terriers in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League, and Carys, who is in Grade 11.

The women’s team first game is against Finland on Feb. 5, while the men start the tournament on Feb. 12 against Czechia.

2026 Olympics: Calgary couple serving as doctors for Team Canada Dr. Ian Auld with Jonathan Huberdeau.