Hockey Canada announced today the first six players of its roster for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which will be held from Feb. 6-22, 2026 in Milan and Cortina, Italy. Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon and defenseman Cale Makar were selected to the initial roster.

Four Avalanche players were named to their respective Olympic squads on Monday, including captain Gabriel Landeskog.

MacKinnon and Makar were both selected to the 2024-25 First All-Star team, which is voted on by the Professional Hockey Writers Association. It’s the first time two members of the Avs have been named to the first team together since Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic in 2001-02.

Winter Olympics mark the first time that NHL players will be at the Olympics since 2014, and their sixth appearance overall-- including 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010. Over those Olympic Games, Canada won gold three times (2002,

Cale Makar won the 2025 James Norris Memorial Trophy, and his teammate Nathan MacKinnon couldn’t help but poke some fun.