MILAN – Charlie McAvoy was present with Jeremy Swayman, Jake Oettinger, and Zach Werenski at the conclusion of the Team USA group in the entrance tunnels leading to the San Siro Stadium floor on Friday night as the crowd’s excitement began to swell.
McAvoy and his fellow members of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team were preparing to step out in front of the 79,000 spectators for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, dressed in their Ralph Lauren outfits alongside the rest of Team USA, which included the U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team, when he heard something louder coming from the front.
“O say, can you seeee!” someone began to sing.
In mere moments, McAvoy and many athletes from the USA delegation were enthusiastically singing the national anthem of the United States as they entered the historic soccer stadium for the 2026 Olympic Opening Ceremony.
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“We're all singing the national anthem as we're about to go out and it just gave me chills,” McAvoy remarked on Saturday morning during a visit to the Starbucks Winter House. “Like I’m getting chills now.”
This was the type of moment McAvoy believed he could not afford to miss when he learned he would be representing his country at the Olympics, particularly after discovering in December that his Boston Bruins teammate David Pastrnak was making arrangements to arrive in Milan in time to potentially serve as the flag bearer for Czechia.
Consequently, McAvoy, along with Oettinger, Swayman, and Werenski, focused on making their way to Milan rather than traveling to Italy with the majority of NHL players on Saturday.
“I received a video from my family, and you can see the smile on my face,” McAvoy stated. “I was quite starstruck looking up and seeing all the lights and everything. I'll never forget that moment. It’s irreplaceable. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
It was a full-circle moment for the Long Beach, New York, native who watched the Opening Ceremony for both the Summer and Winter Olympics with his family during his youth hockey days.
“You see that moment when the athletes walk in and everyone is waving,” McAvoy noted. “The pride I felt just watching on TV, and now I get to be a part of it. It was a moment where I thought, ‘Will I ever regret attending this or will I regret not going?’”
Zach Werenski has always been a strong advocate for representing his country on the international stage, and he played a key role in helping the U.S. Men’s National Team secure its first IIHF World Championship in 92 years last spring.
However, the Opening Ceremony was undoubtedly a step up, showcasing the best athletes from various sports and over 90 countries. The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony was held across multiple venues of the Milano Cortina Games, including events in Livigno and Predazzo.
“The pride I felt last night at the Olympic Ceremony is something I may never experience again,” Werenski expressed. “All the countries here with their flags alongside their teammates and fellow countrymen. It is an extraordinary experience. I’ve always felt that pride playing for Team USA, but last night on that stage, something I have always dreamed of, it truly resonated even more deeply.”
Oettinger credited McAvoy for making him aware that he could attempt to reach Milan in time for the Opening Ceremony.
The 27-year-old remarked that the grand scale of the Opening Ceremony became apparent as the U.S. athlete delegation walked across the stage and he gazed up at the four enormous gold Olympic Rings suspended high above the stadium floor, which had been assembled during a theatrical opening earlier that evening.
“When you walk out and see those massive gold Olympic rings, I grew up watching the opening ceremonies, so I was just like, ‘How did I get here? What am I doing here?’ It was just so cool, and I will never forget that,” Oettinger stated.
Swayman, who is sharing a room with Oettinger in the Olympic Village, described the experience as “surreal.”
“Walking in with your entire country and feeling that pride,” Swayman said. “It was a moment where you pinch yourself, and it was pretty special to share that with those guys.”
After arriving just before 7 a.m. on Friday at Milano Malpensa Airport, the four NHL players participated in a brief Team USA Welcome Experience before eventually making their way to the Olympic Village.
There, they had the opportunity to interact and socialize with other athletes, including members of the U.S. Figure Skating team.
“I met the Quad god. I didn’t even know his name at first,” Oettinger said with a laugh, referring to U.S. figure skating star Ilia Malinin. “I heard he is incredible, and I really want to go see him perform.”
Swayman explained that it has been a whirlwind experience flying to Italy and meeting so many athletes in just 24 hours.
“We obviously connected with all the women’s hockey players, and it was really awesome,” Swayman noted. “Then we met basically the entire U.S. Speedskating Team and figure skaters. It was just an overwhelming experience of joy.”
The remainder of the U.S. Men’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team is set to arrive on Sunday morning, and the group will take to the ice for their first practice later that evening.
“The foundation is in place,” McAvoy stated. “The 4 Nations provided us with that. Then gathering in the summer (at the U.S. Olympic Men’s Orientation Camp) added another layer to that. When everyone arrives tomorrow, we're going to be ready to go. We're going to be prepared for practice.”
Behind The Scenes With The U.S. Olympic Women’s Ice Hockey Team
