Team Canada announced its Olympic team for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo on New Year’s Eve Day. The announcement was made at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel as Minnesota is currently hosting the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Men’s Under 20 Hockey Championships.
There are five players not selected to the team who I believe should have been chosen. Let’s take a look at the five players who were snubbed.
Sam Bennett
Despite winning the 2025 Conn Smythe Trophy, Florida Panthers center Sam Bennett of Holland Landing, Ontario was not selected. This season, Bennett has 13 goals and 16 assists for 29 points, and has been on fire as of late, as he has a seven game point streak. One reason why he may not have been chosen is because of his play on December 27. In that game, he was a -4 with 10 penalty minutes in a 4-2 Panthers loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Remember, the Team Canada coach is Lightning head coach Jon Cooper.
Mackenzie Blackwood
The fact that St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington was chosen when he has had a terrible season and no longer the Blues no. 1 is gobsmacking. The goaltender that should have been chosen is Mackenzie Blackwood of the Colorado Avalanche. Blackwood of Thunder Bay, Ontario, has been great this season as he is 12-1-1 with a goals against average of 2.15, save percentage of .924 and two shutouts.
Wyatt Johnston
The Stars star center from Toronto, Ontario leads the NHL this season with 14 power-play goals. He has 20 goals and 25 assists for 45 points and is a +1 in 39 games. Johnston’s 45 points are the fourth most points among Canadian players.
Matthew Schaefer
The native of Hamilton, Ontario was the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. This season Schaefer has been spectacular in his first year in the NHL as a rookie with the New York Islanders. Schaefer has 25 points in 40 games and is a +8. However, it is his lack of experience is the reason why he is not picked.
Mark Scheifele
The Winnipeg Jets star center from Kitchener, Ontario also has 45 points as he has 18 goals and 27 assists in 37 games. It should be noted that Scheifele is a +8 on a terrible Jets team that has the fewest points in the National Hockey League with 34. One may argue it is because the Jets have not put together victories this season is the reason why Scheifele was not chosen.
Who were chosen?
In addition to Binnington, the players chosen to represent Canada which might have been a surprise were Mark Stone of the Vegas Golden Knights, Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars and Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals.
