USA's Olympic Hockey Team: A Mix of Familiar Faces and Fresh Picks

The United States has picked its men's hockey team for the 2026 Olympics, and it's a blend of old and new. Out of 25 players, 21 were part of the 4 Nations Face-Off, with four new additions. Quinn Hughes is one of the new faces, but he was actually named to the team back in June. The team is packed with talent. Forwards like Auston Matthews, the Tkachuk brothers, and Jake Guentzel are back, along with defensemen Charlie McAvoy and Zach Werenski. The goalies from the 4 Nations—Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman—are also returning.But there are some big snubs. Adam Fox, a former Norris Trophy winner, didn't make the cut after a rough 4 Nations tournament. Jason Robertson, the second-leading goal scorer among Americans, was also left out. Bill Guerin, the U. S. general manager, said it was a tough call but believes the team can bring home gold. The team will face Latvia on February 12 to kick off the tournament. The gold-medal game is set for February 22.