United States announces Olympic hockey rosters
The United States unveiled its men's and women's Olympic hockey rosters for the 2026 Winter Games on Friday.
Men's team
The U.S. men's team came up one goal short at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. The USA is looking to avenge that loss and win the country's first Olympic gold in men's hockey since the iconic 1980 triumph in Lake Placid.
Forwards
Notable omissions: Cole Caufield, Logan Cooley, Alex DeBrincat, Matthew Knies, Chris Kreider, Jason Robertson
Keller and Thompson made the roster after being left off the 4 Nations team. Both were pivotal in ending the USA's 92-year drought at the World Championship in May.
Thompson has 20 goals and 37 points in 39 games this season with the Buffalo Sabres. The 6-foot-6 sniper tallied the overtime winner for Team USA at the Worlds.
Keller captained the American team in the spring. The 27-year-old has 13 goals and 36 points in 41 games this year with the Utah Mammoth, coming off a career-best campaign of 90 points a season ago.
Of the six Americans with 20 or more goals right now, half were left at home: Robertson, DeBrincat, and Caufield.
Robertson is the NHL's highest-scoring American forward this season. He has 24 goals and 48 points in 41 games with the Dallas Stars.
Kreider is the only forward who was dropped from the 4 Nations team. The 34-year-old has 13 goals and 22 points in his first campaign with the Anaheim Ducks.
Defense
Notable omissions: John Carlson, Adam Fox, Lane Hutson, Jackson LaCombe
Snubbing Fox is significant considering Team USA bench boss Mike Sullivan also coaches the 2021 Norris Trophy winner with the New York Rangers. The 27-year-old has 28 points in as many games, but his underwhelming play at the 4 Nations was clearly a factor.
Jones makes the roster after winning the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers. The 6-foot-4 blue-liner has 24 points in 39 contests.
Goalies
Notable omissions: Thatcher Demko, Spencer Knight
Team USA didn't make any changes between the pipes from the 4 Nations and will again be led by Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner.
Women's team
Team USA is cruising, entering the Olympics after sweeping Canada at the Rivalry Series. This is a very different roster from four years ago, when USA lost 3-2 to its northern rival in the gold-medal game. There are 12 players who weren't on the previous American Olympic team, but it's still captained by all-time great Hilary Knight, who is entering her final Games.
Forwards
Notable omissions: Jesse Compher, Lacey Eden, Gabbie Hughes, Casey O'Brien, Abby Roque
Defense
Notable omissions: Kali Flanagan, Savannah Harmon, Emma Peschel, Anna Wilgren
Goalies
Notable omissions: Nicole Hensley, Maddie Rooney