LaCombe, 25, is the third-youngest defenseman on USA\u2019s team. This will be his first appearance at the Olympics and his third time representing his country<\/a>, as he has also played on World Junior Championship and Men\u2019s World Championship teams. The blue liner has had two solid seasons with the Ducks after an okay start as a rookie.<\/p>\n Last season, he made himself known as a two-way defender, tallying 43 points in 75 games. This season, he is serving as an alternate captain and recently signed an eight-year contract extension. He has amassed 31 points in 50 games and is on track to end the season with more than 50 points.<\/p>\n \u201cIt always was (a dream),\u201d LaCombe said about his Olympic candidacy<\/a>. \u201cObviously, you watch the Miracle (Miracle on Ice) movie. You see just kind of all the teams that played before. Any time you get to represent Team USA, it\u2019s obviously a dream come true and special, and I\u2019m just really excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Head coach Joel Quenneville was happy to see a sixth member of his team heading to the Olympics. \u201cI think everybody\u2019s happy for him,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s been really good in this last little stretch here. Everybody roots for him. He\u2019s a very likeable kid, and he\u2019s one of the guys, as well. That\u2019s a big opportunity. He had a little bit of an opportunity last year at the World Championships, and did a nice job.\u201d<\/p>\n LaCombe and Team USA will begin their hunt for gold when the Olympic hockey tournament begins Feb. 11.<\/p>\n Injury Updates \u2013 Carlsson, Terry, McTavish<\/p>\n While Chris Kreider and Cutter Gauthier have returned, Leo Carlsson, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish have gone out. The good news: McTavish is listed as day-to-day<\/a> after missing Wednesday night\u2019s game against the Colorado Avalanche. Jansen Harkins was brought into the lineup in the forward\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n Related: 5 Anaheim Ducks are Chasing Gold in 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Unfortunately, Carlsson will be out for approximately three to five weeks after undergoing a procedure to treat a lesion on his thigh. The Ducks will be down a forward, of course, but depending on his recovery timeline, he could miss the Olympics as well. With the tournament officially starting in two weeks, it would have to be a speedy recovery for him to be 100% before the Games. <\/p>\n Terry was placed on IR (retroactive to Jan. 6) with an upper-body injury. As the seven-day mandatory IR period has passed, he can return whenever he is healthy. He did not take the ice in Colorado, but he is traveling with the team on their five-game road trip, per Patrick Present<\/a>. <\/p>\n A Win Streak Blooms<\/p>\n The Ducks have overcome their midseason slump and are now in the midst of a five-game winning streak. They have overtaken the Dallas Stars and New York Rangers in regulation, as well as the Los Angeles Kings in both overtime and a shootout. They most recently knocked down the Avalanche in a shootout, winning 2-1. These victories are much-needed and have elevated the team back into a playoff position at third in the Pacific Division.<\/p>\n Even in the absence of key players like Carlsson, Terry, and McTavish, Anaheim has found what works again and stuck with it. Lukas Dostal<\/a> is standing on his head game after game, robbing opponents of what should be sure goals. Points are coming from all over the ice, with both forwards and defensemen scoring goals and notching assists in every game.<\/p>\n Young players like Beckett Sennecke<\/a> and Gauthier are offensive weapons lately. Sennecke has four points in the last five games, and Gauthier had a two-goal performance against the Rangers, his 21st and 22nd goals of the season. Even the newest member of the team, Jeffrey Viel, has two goals\u2013 he\u2019s only scored five in his NHL career. <\/p>\n The team is clicking again and is looking to finish strong before the Olympic break. They will go for their sixth win against the Seattle Kraken on Friday and finish the road trip against the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Vancouver Canucks.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a>![\"Jackson](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Jackson-LaCombe-Ducks-1200x900.jpg\")
Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n![\"SUBSCRIBE](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Ducks_Banner-1200x122.jpg\")
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