Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee have officially announced the first six players selected for Canada's preliminary men's hockey roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. This announcement marks a significant milestone as it's the first time since 2014 that NHL players will participate in the Winter Olympics, heightening the anticipation for the event.

The six players named to the preliminary roster are Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Connor McDavid, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart. These players were selected by a committee including general manager Doug Armstrong, assistant general managers Julien BriseBois, Jim Nill, and Don Sweeney, director of player personnel Kyle Dubas, and head coach Jon Cooper, with input from player relations advisor Ryan Getzlaf and senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond. Katherine Henderson, Hockey Canada's president and chief executive officer, also played a supportive role as part of the executive committee.

General Manager Doug Armstrong expressed his enthusiasm about the selections, stating, "We are excited to announce the first six players who will represent Canada at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games next February, as these are six world-class players and leaders that are deserving of this recognition. Sidney, Nathan, Cale, Connor, Brayden, and Sam provide a strong foundation for a successful team and have been proven winners at all levels of their professional and international careers, and we look forward to all six being key contributors to our team as we look to accomplish our goal of winning Olympic gold."

Sidney Crosby, a veteran player with the Pittsburgh Penguins, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. Crosby has previously won two Olympic gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Winter Games. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar, both from the Colorado Avalanche, have demonstrated exceptional skill and performance. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers, Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers will be making their Olympic debuts at the 2026 Winter Games.

The Olympic men's hockey tournament will feature 12 countries, with preliminary games starting on February 11 and the gold medal game scheduled for February 22. Canada finds itself in Group A, alongside Czechia, Switzerland, and France, promising competitive matchups from the start. The remaining members of the Canadian men's hockey team will be announced later this year, completing the roster that will compete for Olympic gold.

Prior to this announcement, Jocelyn Peterman and Brett Gallant were the first athletes named to Canada's 2026 Olympic team in mixed doubles curling.

With the first six players now revealed, anticipation builds as the remaining roster spots are filled and the team prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo.