Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini among 90+ athletes invited to Hockey Canada’s Olympic orientation camp in Calgary this August.
Hockey Canada Kicks Off Olympic Prep with Star-Studded Camp
Hockey Canada has officially launched its Olympic campaign with a high-profile national orientation camp in Calgary, featuring more than 90 players across the men’s, women’s, and Para hockey teams. The camp, set to run later this August, marks a crucial step toward team selection for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
Rising Stars and Veterans Share the Spotlight
Among the most anticipated names are NHL phenoms Connor Bedard (Chicago Blackhawks) and Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks), who join legends like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon for the men’s team sessions. While Crosby, McDavid, and MacKinnon were among six players pre-named to the Olympic squad in June, Bedard and Celebrini aim to earn their places after standout international performances and growing NHL résumés.
Camp Objectives: Chemistry, Evaluation, Unity
The three-day event is designed to foster off-ice cohesion, deliver strategy briefings, and kick-start the months-long evaluation process. According to Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada’s senior vice-president of high performance, “This camp gives our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February.”
NHL players are returning to Olympic action for the first time since Sochi 2014, following absences in 2018 and 2022 due to league decisions.
Leadership Group Drives Team Selection
Team selection is led by a high-powered management group including GM Doug Armstrong, assistant GMs Julien BriseBois, Jim Nill, and Don Sweeney, along with coach Jon Cooper and player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf. A total of 42 NHL players have been invited, including both seasoned Olympians and first-time hopefuls.
The six confirmed players include:
- Sidney Crosby
- Connor McDavid
- Nathan MacKinnon
- Cale Makar
- Brayden Point
- Sam Reinhart
Canada’s Depth Shows in Every Position
The goalie position appears stable with only three names invited: Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault, all of whom participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off earlier this year.
On defense, Cale Makar remains the only confirmed pick, but strong contenders like Devon Toews, Drew Doughty, and Aaron Ekblad are in the mix. Young stars Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard are also vying for roster spots.
Among forwards, Zach Hyman, Nick Suzuki, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins are battling for positions alongside stalwarts like John Tavares, Brad Marchand, and Mitch Marner.
Para Hockey Team Seeks Gold Redemption
Also invited are 20 players to the Para hockey camp, including stars Tyler McGregor, Liam Hickey, and Dominic Cozzolino—key contributors from Canada’s silver-medal performance at the 2022 Paralympics and the 2025 World Para Hockey Championship.
Led by nine returning Paralympians and 16 world champions, the roster boasts a blend of experience and energy. The Para squad’s journey toward redemption begins at the Paralympic Games in March 2026, aiming to surpass their last performance and capture gold.
The Road to Milano Cortina 2026 Begins
With the opening game for the men’s team scheduled against the Czech Republic on February 12, and the gold medal final set for February 22, time is ticking for final selections. The women’s and Para teams will follow similar timelines, as all squads look to reclaim gold and restore Canadian dominance on the global stage.
As Salmond put it, “We are building more than a team—we’re building a legacy.”
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