Team Canada is set to begin group play at the 2026 Winter Olympics against Czechia on Thursday morning, but the identity of their starting goaltender remains unclear. Ahead of the game, the team completed their final full practice on Wednesday in Italy, with many eager to learn which goalie head coach Jon Cooper would choose to start.
All three goalies—Jordan Binnington, Logan Thompson, and Darcy Kuemper—participated in the practice. Despite media inquiries, Cooper withheld the starting goalie decision, maintaining suspense over his initial lineup.
What is common practice with me all the time is that we usually meet at night before the game, and I tell the guys at that meeting,
Cooper said on TSN.
Sorry, boys. If we had a night practice, maybe [I’d tell you].
Who Took Part in Practice and What It Suggests
According to NHL.com reporter Dan Rosen, Binnington guarded the net during part of the session, having been Canada’s starter at the recent 4 Nations Face-Off where they won gold. Meanwhile, Thompson and Kuemper rotated in the other net for the remainder of the practice.
Binnington’s current NHL season numbers have seen a dip, posting an 8-17-6 record with a 3.65 goals-against average and a .864 save percentage in 32 games for the St. Louis Blues. Despite this, Cooper appears loyal to his performance in last year’s international success.
Canada will play consecutive games in the opening days of the tournament, facing Czechia on Thursday and Switzerland on Friday. Cooper acknowledged that different goalies will likely start in these matches.
I would say that’s a safe assumption,
Cooper added.
We’ve got three phenomenal goalies. Goalies who have a lot of hardware in their trophy case.
Performance and Roles of the Three Goaltenders
If Binnington starts the opening game, Thompson seems positioned for the second. The Calgary-born 28-year-old has been the standout goalie this NHL season, boasting impressive metrics, including stopping 18.3 goals above expected, ranking third in the league.
Thompson’s season stats with the Washington Capitals include a 19-16-4 record, a 2.45 goals-against average, a .912 save percentage, and two shutouts. Kuemper’s numbers for the Los Angeles Kings sit at 14-11-9, a 2.59 goals-against average, a .900 save percentage, and two shutouts.
Other Team Lineup Details and Upcoming Match
Canada’s lineup largely remained consistent entering their third practice in Italy, confirming that Tom Wilson will likely begin the tournament on the first line alongside stars Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini.
The puck drop for Canada’s first Olympic game against Czechia is scheduled for 10:40 a.m. ET on Thursday, marking the start of what promises to be a closely watched tournament with intense goaltending decisions under the spotlight.
Binnington has his own net. Thompson and Kuemper splitting time in the other net.
— Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) February 11, 2026
