Scheifele: 'I don't know what else I could've done' to make Team Canada

Winnipeg Jets center Mark Scheifele ended the 2025 year on a sour note upon learning Wednesday he was left off Canada's 2026 Olympic hockey team.

"Yeah, it sucked," Scheifele told reporters following Winnipeg's 6-5 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday. "Pretty dark day."

Scheifele was one of the most notable omissions from the roster. He ranks fourth in the NHL among Canadian skaters with 48 points in 39 games this season, putting him on pace for a career-high 101 points.

"I don't know what else I could've done," he said. "Part of the way I played all season, to now, I think I'm probably playing the best hockey I've ever played in my career."

Scheifele added that he will remain in the Olympic testing protocol in case he's called upon as an injury replacement.

"It just shows the amount of talent in Canada," he said. "So many great hockey players, so many great guys. It's an honor to be a part of this country just because there are so many great hockey players. Obviously, I wish I was picked, but God's got a plan."

At 32, this was likely Scheifele's best chance to become an Olympian.

The Kitchener, Ontario, native has donned the red Maple Leaf at two world juniors and three World Championships, but he's never represented Canada at a best-on-best tournament.