COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Auston Matthews (Scottsdale, Ariz.), who is the current captain of the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs, has been appointed as the captain of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team, as announced today by USA Hockey.
Additionally, Matthew Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), who serves as an alternate captain for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, along with Charlie McAvoy (Long Beach, N.Y.), an alternate captain for the Boston Bruins, have been designated as alternate captains for Team USA.
"Auston, Charlie, and Matthew performed excellently in leading our team last year at the 4 Nations Face-Off, and it’s wonderful to have them back in these roles for the Olympics,” stated Bill Guerin (Wilbraham, Mass.), general manager of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and also president of hockey operations and general manager of the Minnesota Wild. "Each of them contributes unique leadership qualities, and I know all three are eager, as is our entire team, to represent our nation as part of Team USA.”
Matthews, Tkachuk, and McAvoy have competed together on three occasions at the international level, most recently aiding the U.S. in securing second place at the 4 Nations Face-Off last February in Montreal and Boston. Furthermore, the trio contributed to the U.S. winning gold at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and bronze at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Moreover, Matthews was also a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and represented Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championship and the 2016 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
Team USA will commence play in the Olympic Winter Games on Thursday, Feb. 12, in Milan, Italy, facing Latvia at Milano Santaguilia Arena. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. local/3:10 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast live on USA Network. All hockey matches in the Olympic Tournament will be streamed live on Peacock.
NOTES: Matthew Tkachuk’s father, Keith, was an alternate captain of the championship-winning U.S. team at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and also served as an alternate captain for Team USA in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey … Follow Team USA during the Olympic Winter Games by clicking here.
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