Stars and Stripes on Ice: Team USA roster revealed for the Winter Olympics

Today, Jan. 2, 2026, the official roster for Team USA's Men's Ice Hockey has been revealed. With the National Hockey League (NHL) players returning to the Olympic stage for the first time since 2014, Team USA has assembled a mix of established stars and American talent for the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

The offical roster for Team USA are as follows:  * indicates the first six introduced.

The final roster announcement was not without controversy. While many fans celebrated the inclusion of top talents, the final selections meant some very tough decisions made.

As reported by hockey insider Frank Seravalli, the list of notable omissions for Team USA includes high-profile players who many expected to represent the USA in the Winter Olympics:

• Cole Caufield (Montrèal Canadiens): Canadiens' goal-scorer was not included despite his strong campaign, which currently includes 20 goals and 40 points (tied for a top-5 American goal total). His exclusion highlights the team's controversial choice to prioritize a heavier, checking-based forward group, leaving one of the best puck shooters in the NHL off the roster.
• Jason Robertson (Dallas Stars): Despite being the highest American Player in points (48P), Robertson is not included, and his absence is already discussed by many fans on social media, describing it as "the most surprising snub".

Notable omissions also include: Matthew Knies (Toronto Maple Leafs), Chris Kreider (Anaheim Ducks), Alex Tuch (Buffalo Sabres), John Carlson (Washington Capitals), Adam Fox (New York Rangers), Lane Hutson (Montrèal Canadiens), and Jackson LaCombe (Anaheim Ducks).

On the bright side, notable players included in the roster have achieved multiple major NHL awards and achievements. Team USA's commitment to selecting players with established NHL success means this roster is not simply filled with talent, but with athletes who have already proven they can be the very best in the world at their respective roles.

Quinn Hughes has made a name for himself as one of the NHL's best defensemen since his debut in 2019, consistently delivering elite offensive production. A native of Orlando, Florida, the 25-year-old recently made headlines with his trade to the Minnesota Wild, following a decorated tenure with the Vancouver Canucks. Since entering the league in 2019, Hughes has been an elite offensive force, culminating in a 92-point (17 goals, 75 assists) Norris Trophy-winning season in 2023-24, and he was on a similar scoring pace this season before the move. Entering the new year, Hughes carries 30 points with 3 goals and 27 assists in 35 games, standing at 10th in points and 5th in assists for the defensemen.

The first overall pick of the 2016 NHL Draft, Auston Matthews continues to make a monumental impact every time he hits the ice. His career began with a historic four-goal performance in his first-ever NHL game, setting the tone for what would become an unparalleled scoring career. More recently, Matthews took on a leadership role, serving as captain for both the Maple Leafs and Team USA at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. Demonstrating his immediate importance, Matthews made a huge impact in his return today against the Jets following a brief lower-body injury: he dominated the scoresheet by recording a hat trick and one assist for a total of four points. Matthews holds 31 points with 18 goals and 13 assists in 34 games played.

Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy, a dynamic, high-minute blue-liner, is a physical presence crucial for transitioning the puck on the large European ice. Despite dealing with a recent facial injury, he is quickly returning to elite form, having recorded 19 points with 1 goal, 18 assists in 28 games this season while averaging over 24 minutes of ice time per contest. Complementing the defense is the captain of the New York Rangers, J.T. Miller, who provides the crucial mix of scoring and physicality that management craved. Miller holds 22 points 10 goals, 12 assists in 35 games.

The 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics for ice hockey are set to be held in the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy. Schedule for the Preliminary Round for USA are below:

With the devastating 4 Nations Face-Off loss against Canada—which was sealed by a familiar rival in overtime—Team USA is even more determined to avenge that defeat and finally capture gold in the men's best-on-best competition.