Alumni among first 6 for Olympics

Last year, the National Hockey League announced that their players would be available to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics. The league along with the qualified federations came out with their first six players on their rosters last week. A few Halifax Mooseheads alumni were among the players named. 

Photo - Avalanche Twitter

Forward Nathan MacKinnon will represent Hockey Canada for the first time at the Olympics as NHL players have not been able to participate in the games since 2014. MacKinnon, who wore the Mooseheads' jersey from 2011-2013, just finished his 12th professional season with the Colorado Avalanche. He recorded 32 goals and 116 points during the regular season in 2024-25. The 29-year-old's 84 assists were a league high. Follow Avalanche teammate Cale Makar is also slated to suit up for Canada. 

27-year-old Nikolaj Ehlers is set to play for Team Denmark. To me this is no surprise as Ehlers helped his country qualify for the tournament last year as well as in 2021. He was named to the original 3 for the 2022 Olympics but the NHL decided not to send players in the end, citing concerns over COVID. The Aalborg native picked up 63 points in 69 games played for the Winnipeg Jets this past season and is up for a contract after completing his tenth year in the NHL. 

Photo - Devils Twitter

Just like the previous Olympics, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier of the New Jersey Devils look to be teammates for Team Switzerland assuming everything works out this time. Hischier, who played only one season in Halifax, scored 35 goals and 69 points during the regular season and added 4 goals in 5 playoff games. The 26-year-old wore the captaincy at the last two World Championships so it's possible that he is given the honour in February. 28-year-old Meier record 53 points in 80 games in his second full season with the Devils after suiting up for six & a half years for San Jose. 

Congrats to the four players who are were named to the initial rosters. It will be interesting to see if any other alumni will also represent their countries. The full rosters are set to be released in January. 

The men's hockey tournament will be held February 11-22, 2026 in Milan, Italy.