Denmark has officially announced the first six players who will represent the nation at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The Games are scheduled to take place from February 6th to 22nd, 2026. This marks only the second time Denmark will compete in the men's tournament at the Winter Games, their first appearance being at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing where they reached the quarterfinals.
The six players named to the preliminary roster are:
- Frederik Andersen (Goaltender): The 35-year-old veteran of the Carolina Hurricanes has been a mainstay in the Danish net for the past decade. This season, he recorded a 13-8-1 record with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .899 save percentage in 22 regular-season games. Andersen also boasts an impressive 8-5 record with a 2.02 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. With 308 career wins and 28 shutouts across stints with the Anaheim Ducks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes, Andersen brings a wealth of experience. He was named best goaltender at the 2018 World Championships held in Denmark.
- Oliver Bjorkstrand (Forward): The 30-year-old tallied 46 points (21 goals, 25 assists) in 79 games split between the Seattle Kraken and Tampa Bay Lightning this season. A consistent scorer, Bjorkstrand has 384 points (172 goals, 212 assists) in 624 career games, including seven seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has represented Denmark at the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers twice.
- Nikolaj Ehlers (Forward): Ehlers, 29, of the Winnipeg Jets, is statistically the most accomplished Danish player in NHL history. He leads all Denmark-born players in goals (225) and points (520) and is second in assists (295). This season, he scored 24 goals and 63 points in 69 games, marking his eighth season with at least 20 goals. He played a key role in Denmark qualifying for the last two Olympic Games.
- Lars Eller (Forward): The 36-year-old veteran, who played for both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals this season, brings a wealth of experience and leadership to the team. He has recorded 424 points (188 goals, 236 assists) in 1,116 career games with the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Colorado Avalanche, Penguins, and Capitals. Eller won the Stanley Cup with Washington in 2018 and has represented Denmark five times at the World Championships.
- Jesper Jensen Aabo (Defenseman): The 33-year-old currently plays for EC-KAC in Austria's ICE Hockey League and has been the captain of the Danish National Team for the past three years. Aabo brings a steady presence on the blue line, having played in 92 games across the past 14 World Championships and at the 2022 Olympics. He has also played professionally in Germany, Sweden, and Russia.
- Jonas Rondbjerg (Forward): Rondbjerg, 26, is a member of the Vegas Golden Knights, with 76 games of NHL experience over four seasons. He has also represented Denmark at the World Championships and World Juniors four times.
The remainder of the Danish roster will be announced later in the year. The team will compete in Group C, alongside Germany, Latvia, and the United States. The Men's tournament is scheduled to begin on February 11, 2026, with the gold medal game taking place on February 22. The games will be held at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (capacity 14,000) and the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena (capacity 5,700). This year marks the return of NHL players to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, adding to the excitement and anticipation for the event.
