Sebastian Aho, right, of the Carolina Hurricanes and Team Finland, chats with Oliver Kapanen during training at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Feb. 9, 2026 in Milan, Italy.
Elsa
Getty Images
Milan, Italy
Heavyweight hockey favorites Canada and the United States missed the gold medal at the last Winter Olympics Games, taken down by another top world contender, Finland.
Now, after an unexpected win at the Beijing Olympics in 2022, the Finns are out to defend their title, with a load of NHL-based reinforcements that include Carolina Hurricanes star Sebastian Aho.
Aho’s path to his Olympic debut hasn’t been linear, but it has been worth it.
Born in Rauma, Finland, Aho began playing in his home country, making his professional debut with Oulun Kärpät in the Finnish SM-liiga, during the 2013–14 season. He was then selected by the Hurricanes in the second round (No. 35) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
A three-time NHL All-Star, the 28-year-old Aho has already made his fair share of NHL history: He was the third player in NHL history to start a season (2018-19) with at least one assist in 12 straight games, along with Wayne Gretzky (Edmonton, 1982-83) and Ken Linseman (Boston, 1985-86).
Currently in his 10th NHL season, Aho is hoping to help the Hurricanes get over the championship hump and help the franchise secure its first Stanley Cup since 2006. But before he looks to help them make a deep playoff run, his focus has shifted to the Olympic Games.
Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (20) reacts after scoring on Florida Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (72) to take a 2-0 lead in the first period during Game 5 to take a 2-0 of their Stanley Cup series on May 28, 2025 at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C. Robert Willett Raleigh ‘Dream come true’ for Aho
In the Olympic lead-up, Aho was one six initial players named to the Finnish roster. The excitement for these games has been growing for Aho since that moment last June.
It still might not have set in yet for Aho that he is an Olympian representing his home country.
“It’s unreal,” Aho said. “It’s a dream come true for sure. I mean those are probably some of my favorite memories as a hockey fan watching Team Finland play in the Olympics.”
After watching so many Olympic Games, Aho is finally competing in one. He knows the power these games have for country pride.
“Especially back home,” Aho said, “I feel like (the Olympics) unites the whole country and everyone’s rooting for the same team and I think it’s so cool.”
Family time amid the competition
Outside of competing, Aho is looking forward to the food in Italy and making memories. He is now a father, too, with an eight-month-old daughter, so he is playing for more than just himself.
Thousands of fans will be watching from back home, but Aho will have people supporting him in Italy too.
“Just experiencing the whole Olympics,” he said. “My family will be there, which is awesome so (hope to) hang out, go watch some sporting events with them, and just have a good time. Hopefully play great hockey and bring home a gold medal.”
Finland will begin its gold medal defense Wednesday against Slovakia, and will face Scandanavian rival Sweden on Friday in Group B preliminary round games.
After dreaming of this moment for years, the time is finally here for Aho.
Anna Laible is a student with UNC Media Hub, a program with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, reporting from the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
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