The Carolina Hurricanes will be well-represented at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, with star forward Sebastian Aho named to Finland's preliminary roster and goaltender Frederik Andersen selected for Denmark. The announcements were made on Monday, June 16, 2025, as the 12 participating nations revealed their first six players chosen for their respective Olympic squads. This marks the return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, adding immense excitement to the event.
Aho, a key player for the Hurricanes, will be a vital component of the Finnish team. He previously wore an "A" as an alternate captain for Finland at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where the team finished fourth. Aho also contributed two assists in three games during that tournament.
Andersen's selection to Team Denmark is equally significant. He played a crucial role in Denmark's Olympic qualification, allowing just four goals in three qualifying games. His standout performance included a 30-save effort against Norway, securing Denmark's spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics is scheduled to take place from February 11 to 22, 2026. The competition will be held at two venues: the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, with a capacity of 14,000, and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, which can hold 5,700 spectators. The twelve teams are divided into three groups of four. Canada, Czechia, Switzerland, and France are in Group A; Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, and host nation Italy are in Group B; and the United States, Germany, Latvia, and Denmark are in Group C.
These preliminary roster announcements offer a glimpse into the potential composition of the teams competing for Olympic glory. The complete rosters, consisting of 25 players each, will be revealed in early 2026.
The inclusion of NHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics is a significant development for international hockey. Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, expressed his excitement for the event, emphasizing the passion, talent, and spectacle that NHL players bring to best-on-best international competition.
Other notable NHL players named to their respective national teams include Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Cale Makar for Canada; Auston Matthews, Matthew Tkachuk, and Quinn Hughes for the United States; Leon Draisaitl for Germany; David Pastrnak for Czechia; and William Nylander for Sweden.
Denmark will be making only their second appearance in the men's ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics, their first being at Beijing 2022 where they reached the quarter-finals and finished seventh. Finland, in contrast, has a long history in the Winter Olympics, with Milano Cortina 2026 marking their 19th appearance. They are the defending champions from Beijing 2022, where they won their first-ever gold medal. Finland has also won two silver and four bronze medals in the past.
These initial selections highlight the star power and depth that will be on display at the 2026 Winter Olympics. As the final rosters take shape, anticipation will continue to build for what promises to be a memorable ice hockey tournament.
