Saskatoon’s Darcy Kuemper will be wearing the Maple Leaf on hockey’s biggest international stage.
Kuemper is the lone Saskatchewan-born player named to Canada’s Men’s Olympic hockey team for the Milan Cortina Games this February, as Hockey Canada unveiled its 25-man roster on Tuesday. The 35-year-old goaltender earns the nod following a steady season with the Los Angeles Kings, rewarding a veteran who has quietly built one of the most reliable résumés among Canadian netminders.
Kuemper joins Jordan Binnington of the St. Louis Blues — sensational during Canada’s run at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off — and Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals as the three goaltenders tasked with backstopping Canada in Italy.
It’s a proud moment for Kuemper and for Saskatchewan hockey fans, as the Saskatoon product will carry the province’s banner when NHL players return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
Canada’s roster does feature some new blood up front, including 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini headlines four forward additions to the group that captured the 4 Nations title last February. He’s joined by Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens), Bo Horvat (New York Islanders), and Tom Wilson (Washington Capitals).
But the biggest talking point surrounding the roster isn’t who made it — it’s who didn’t.
Connor Bedard, the former Regina Pats captain and current Chicago Blackhawks star, was left off the Olympic team, a decision that will sting fans in the Queen City. Bedard has been nothing short of electric this season, piling up 44 points in 31 games, yet still found himself on the outside looking in.
Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong acknowledged the difficulty of the call.
“His name was right there until the last second,” Armstrong said. “But the reality is there are so many good players, and we just had difficult decisions to make.”
Bedard wasn’t the only notable omission. Mark Scheifele (Winnipeg Jets), Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers and reigning Conn Smythe Trophy winner), Travis Konecny (Philadelphia Flyers), and Seth Jarvis (Carolina Hurricanes) were also left off despite recent international experience.
The return of NHL players to the Olympic Games adds another layer of anticipation to the tournament. After skipping the 2018 Olympics and seeing plans derailed by COVID-19 in 2022, the sport’s best are finally back on the world stage. Canada, of course, captured gold the last two times NHLers were involved — Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014.
This time around, Saskatchewan’s hopes rest squarely on Kuemper’s shoulders. From Saskatoon to Milan, it’s a journey years in the making — and one that puts a familiar prairie name in the middle of Canada’s pursuit of Olympic gold.
Here is the full roster:
Forwards:
Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks); Anthony Cirelli (Tampa Bay Lightning); Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins); Brandon Hagel (Tampa Bay); Bo Horvat (New York Islanders); Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche); Brad Marchand (Florida Panthers); Mitch Marner (Vegas Golden Knights); Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers); Brayden Point (Tampa Bay); Sam Reinhart (Florida); Mark Stone (Vegas); Nick Suzuki (Montreal Canadiens); Tom Wilson
(Washington Capitals)
Defencemen:
Drew Doughty (Los Angeles Kings); Thomas Harley (Dallas Stars); Cale Makar (Colorado); Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg Jets); Colton Parayko (St. Louis Blues); Travis Sanheim (Philadelphia Flyers); Shea Theodore (Vegas); Devon Toews (Colorado)
Goaltenders:
Jordan Binnington (St. Louis); Darcy Kuemper (Los Angeles); Logan Thompson (Washington)
