There is significant news at this time for Team USA at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo. That is because there is a slight change to the American defense. In is Jackson LaCombe of Eden Prairie, Minnesota and out is Seth Jones of Arlington, Texas.
Why is Seth Jones out?
Jones injured his collarbone when he was hit by the puck during the Winter Classic on January 2. Jones, who plays for the Florida Panthers, lost to the New York Rangers by a score of 5-1 in a dominant Rangers performance. The top Rangers player in the game was Mika Zibanejad, who had a five-point game as he had three goals and two assists for five points.
Jackson LaCombe’s statistics this season
Lacombe has six goals and 25 assists for 31 points in 50 games with the Anaheim Ducks. He was a -2 with 10 penalty minutes, eight power-play points, two shorthanded points, 104 shots on goal, 84 blocked shots, 44 hits, 30 takeaways and 73 giveaways.
Jones’s statistics in 2025-26
Jones has six goals and 18 assists for 24 points in 40 games. He is a -2 with 16 penalty minutes, 13 power-play points, 78 shots on goal, 47 blocked shots, 38 hits, 10 takeaways, and 52 giveaways. Jones was also an instrumental part of the Panthers blueline on a Florida team that won the 2025 Stanley Cup in six games over the Edmonton Oilers.
LaCombe had a notable spring and fall
LaCombe was part of Team USA that won the gold medal at the 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation World Hockey Championship in Sweden and Denmark. In the gold medal game on May 25, the United States beat Switzerland 1-0 on an overtime winner by Tage Thompson of the Buffalo Sabres. It was also a notable game for Anchorage, Alaska native Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins, as he had 25 saves for the shutout. As for LaCombe, he had two goals and three assists for five points in the tournament and was an impressive +11 after only 10 games. LaCombe then made hockey headlines on October 2 when he signed an eight-year contract extension with the Ducks worth $72 million.
Who are the other American defensemen?
LaCombe will be joined by Brock Faber of Maple Grove, Minnesota (Minnesota Wild), Noah Hanifin of Norwood, Massachusetts (Vegas Golden Knights), Quinn Hughes of Canton, Michigan (Minnesota Wild), Charlie McAvoy of Long Beach, New York (Boston Bruins), Jake Sanderson of Whitefish, Montana (Ottawa Senators), Jaccob Slavin of Erie, Colorado (Carolina Hurricanes), and Zach Werenski of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan.
What is the American Olympic hockey schedule?
The United States are in Group C. Their preliminary games are against Latvia on February 12, Denmark on February 14, and Germany on February 15.
