Auston Matthews Takes the Helm as Captain of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
In an exciting announcement from USA Hockey, Auston Matthews, who hails from Scottsdale, Arizona, and currently captains the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, has been officially named the captain of the U.S. Men's Ice Hockey Team for the upcoming 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy.
But that's not all! Joining Matthews in leadership roles are Matthew Tkachuk from St. Louis, Missouri, who serves as an alternate captain for the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Florida Panthers, and Charlie McAvoy from Long Beach, New York, who is also an alternate captain, representing the Boston Bruins. Each player brings a wealth of experience and a unique set of leadership qualities to the team.
Bill Guerin, general manager of the 2026 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team and president of hockey operations for the Minnesota Wild, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Auston, Charlie, and Matthew were instrumental in leading our squad during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, and it’s fantastic to have them back for the Olympics. Their diverse leadership styles will be invaluable, and I know they’re all eager to represent our country with pride as part of Team USA."
The trio of Matthews, Tkachuk, and McAvoy has previously collaborated on three occasions at the international level. Their most recent appearance together was during the 4 Nations Face-Off held last February in Montreal and Boston, where they played a key role in securing a second-place finish for the U.S. They also contributed to the team's success in clinching gold at the 2015 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and a bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Adding to Matthews' impressive international credentials, he was part of the gold medal-winning U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team at the 2014 IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship and participated in both the 2015 and 2016 IIHF World Junior Championships, as well as the 2016 IIHF Men’s World Championship.
The U.S. team is set to kick off their Olympic journey on Thursday, February 12, facing off against Latvia at the Milano Santaguilia Arena. The game is scheduled to start at 9:10 p.m. local time (3:10 p.m. ET) and fans can catch all the action live on USA Network. Additionally, every hockey match throughout the Olympic Tournament will be available for streaming on Peacock.
Interesting Note: It’s worth mentioning that Matthew Tkachuk’s father, Keith, was a noteworthy figure in U.S. hockey history; he served as an alternate captain for the championship-winning U.S. team during the 1996 World Cup of Hockey and held the same role for Team USA at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
Stay updated on Team USA's journey through the Olympic Winter Games by following their progress.
