Canada secured a convincing 5-0 victory over Czechia in the men’s Olympic hockey preliminary round on February 12 at the Milano-Cortina Games, marking a significant milestone as NHL players return to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014. With all 25 Canadian roster members currently active in the NHL, the team displayed overwhelming skill and teamwork against a strong Czech squad, which featured 12 NHL players of its own.
Canadians Drive the Score Ahead in a Dominant Performance
The game unfolded with Canada quickly establishing a commanding lead, supported by key contributions from several NHL stars. Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki sealed the final goal with just over six minutes remaining in the third period, increasing Canada’s advantage to five goals without reply. Earlier, Nathan MacKinnon scored Canada’s first power play goal of the tournament, assisted by Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, three generational talents finally sharing the Olympic ice together for the first time.
Throughout the match, Czechia’s usually passionate fans grew noticeably subdued as their team trailed heavily in the third period. Despite being the strongest team in the group—alongside France and Switzerland—thanks to their NHL presence, Czechia was unable to contain Canada’s potent offense and structured defense.
Personal Reflections on NHL Teammates Reuniting on the Olympic Stage
Nathan MacKinnon, making his Olympic Winter Games debut at age 30, expressed his deep admiration and close relationship with teammate Sidney Crosby, who returned to the Olympics after nearly a decade. Now teammates in NHL play and countrymen from Nova Scotia, MacKinnon shared his respect and the valuable mentorship he receives from Crosby.
“I mean, he’s eight years older than I am. So when he first entered the league, I was 10, you know, a ripe age to be a fan and obviously very close. Now, I learn a lot from him, obviously on the ice, but especially off the ice. He’s such a good person. Treats everyone so well, great sense of humour. Just a fun guy to be around,”
MacKinnon said.
“I don’t know who’s had more decorated Olympic moments. I mean, he scored in both gold-medal games. Just very clutch, obviously. I mean, he’s a special player, a special person, obviously the captain. So yeah, amazing person.”
As a key figure of Team Canada’s offense, MacKinnon was named the 4 Nations Face-Off MVP after leading Canada to victory over the United States last year, an indicator of his growing influence on the international stage.
Canadian Athletes Secure Multiple Medals Amid Intense Milano-Cortina Competition
Beyond hockey, Canada’s athletes have continued to excel across various disciplines at the 2026 Winter Games. The country’s medal count reached six, highlighted by two silver medals earned earlier in the day. Éliot Grondin won silver in men’s snowboard cross, replicating the silver-gold finish from Beijing 2022 against Austrian Alessandro Haemmerle. Meanwhile, Mikaël Kingsbury captured silver in men’s moguls, extending his record to the most Olympic medals won by any male freestyle skier.
Grondin credited his experience and tactical tricks for securing his second Olympic silver in snowboard cross, acknowledging the tight competition and challenging weather conditions that complicated the race. He expressed a mixture of pride and ambition:
“I did want gold today. So many good things happened this week and I’m proud of myself, but I definitely wanted more,”
he told CBC in both English and French.
“Not many people can do back-to-back podiums in the Olympics. I just got two silver in a row, so it shows that we’ve been on top of the sport for a little while now.”
Grondin’s closest rival, Austria’s Alessandro Haemmerle, edged him out by just 0.03 seconds in a photo finish, marking a career-long rivalry intensified again with this Olympic result.
In men’s moguls, Kingsbury nearly clinched gold but fell short by a slim margin in the tiebreak due to turn scores, despite outperforming his competitor Australia’s Cooper Woods in air difficulty. Kingsbury, a veteran of four Olympic Games, reflected on the near victory with mixed feelings.
“I don’t want to say bittersweet, because I’m very happy, but how can you be closer to a gold medal than that?”
Recovering from a groin injury suffered in training last September, Kingsbury’s resilience was evident. He triumphantly posted his 100th FIS World Cup win months earlier on home soil in Val Saint-Côme, Quebec. Emotionally, skiing in front of his son Henrik, just under 18 months old, added deep personal meaning to his performance.
“I know it might be my last one,”
Kingsbury revealed when discussing his Olympic future.
Women’s Hockey Team Advances with Convincing Victory
The Canadian women’s hockey squad also finished the preliminary round strongly, beating Finland 5-0. Despite the absence of captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who required additional rest, the team managed a dominant performance to secure passage into the quarterfinals, where they will face Germany for the first time in Olympic history. Canada’s women’s team remains a formidable contender as they continue their pursuit of gold.
Emotional Moments and Stories Beyond the Ice
Several poignant events have unfolded throughout the Games, illustrating the broader human stories at play. A particularly touching moment occurred when Italian speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida bowed repeatedly in respect toward Czech speed skating legend Martina Sablikova, who has announced her retirement after these Games. Sablikova, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, finished 11th in her final Olympic race.
In more challenging news, Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych was disqualified from competition after refusing to wear a helmet that did not honor his fallen Ukrainian teammates in the ongoing war. The decision was reached minutes before his event, amid significant emotions within the Olympic leadership. Heraskevych plans to appeal the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Upcoming Canadian Highlights in Olympic Events
Canadian athletes remain active in several events throughout the day, including the snowboard halfpipe and short-track speed skating. Elizabeth Hosking will compete in the women’s snowboard halfpipe final after qualifying eighth. Meanwhile, Will Dandjinou, with Courtney Sarault and Kim Boutin, will race in the short-track speed skating 1,000-meter men’s and 500-meter women’s events respectively, with quarterfinals and finals scheduled later in the day.
Significance of NHLers Returning to Olympic Hockey
The return of NHL players to the Olympic ice for the first time since 2014 injects renewed excitement and intensity into the competition, elevating the sport’s profile on an international stage and raising expectations for thrilling matchups in the remaining tournament rounds. Canada’s commanding win over Czechia demonstrates the strength and experience gained from NHL careers and offers a glimpse of the high-quality hockey likely to be showcased through the quarterfinals and beyond.
As the Games progress, the integration of seasoned NHL stars like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Nick Suzuki with emerging talent continues to reinforce Canada’s status as an Olympic hockey powerhouse, influencing team dynamics and inspiring younger athletes across other sports.
With Canada’s women and men both advancing confidently, the nation’s medal count grows alongside rising anticipation for future events and the potential to add more podium finishes during these high-stakes Winter Olympics.
