Matthews named Team USA captain: 'Honored' to play at Olympics

Auston Matthews will again wear the "C" for his country in best-on-best competition.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star was named captain of the U.S. men's hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics, reprising his leadership role from last year's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk will serve as alternate captains for the Americans at the Milan Cortina Games.

"Auston, Charlie, and Matthew did a great job in leading our team a year ago at Four Nations, and it's great to have them back in those roles for the Olympics," U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement.

"They all bring different leadership traits to the table, and I know all three are excited, as is our whole team, about representing our country as part of Team USA."

Matthews, 28, has 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games this season with the Leafs.

"It's crazy to think about now we're here, and you get this opportunity, and it's just very special," Matthews told reporters Sunday after the team's first practice in Italy. "You're always extremely honored to represent your country and wear the Team USA jersey, but obviously it means that much more when you're doing it at a setting like the Olympics."

The Americans, who lost to Canada in overtime of the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game, are looking to claim Olympic gold in men's hockey for the first time since the famous "Miracle on Ice" team in 1980.

The U.S. begins play against Latvia on Feb. 12.