USA Hockey has announced its 44-player roster for the U.S. Men's Olympic Orientation Camp, and three players from the Ottawa Senators have been named to the roster: Brady Tkachuk, Jake Sanderson, and Shane Pinto. The camp is scheduled to take place from August 26-27 in Plymouth, Michigan.
This is a significant achievement for the Senators, as it highlights the team's strong American core and the players' potential to represent their country at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan/Cortina, Italy. The orientation camp is an important step in the selection process for the final Olympic roster, which is expected to be announced in early January.
Brady Tkachuk, the Senators' captain, was among the first six players named to the U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team earlier this summer. Tkachuk's leadership and passion were on full display at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he led the Americans with three goals. He is expected to be a key leader for the American squad.
Jake Sanderson, a defenseman, has emerged as one of the NHL's top defensemen. Sanderson also played for the USA at the 4 Nations Face-Off. There is speculation that Sanderson could be a candidate for the Norris Trophy in the future. Sanderson was also on the American squad that competed at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.
Shane Pinto, a center, has put himself on Team USA's radar with a strong performance at the 2025 World Championship. Pinto could be a strong third-line center in a short tournament, as he can play at both ends of the ice.
The orientation camp will be largely an administrative and team-building event, with no formal on-ice activities. Bill Guerin, the American general manager from the Minnesota Wild, and Mike Sullivan, the New York Rangers' coach, will oversee the camp. They led Team USA to the final of the 4 Nations Face-Off against Team Canada in February.
The U.S. is set to compete in Group C in Italy alongside Germany, Latvia, and Denmark and will open play on Feb. 11 against Latvia. Team USA last won gold on home ice in Lake Placid in 1980. In the last Olympics with NHL players, Sochi 2014, the team finished in fourth place.
