The 2026 Olympic hockey tournament wrapped up with a thrilling overtime showdown where Team USA edged out Canada, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. Throughout the two-week spectacle, NHL stars lit up the ice, showcasing their skills on the world stage. However, the Calgary Flames found themselves in an unenviable position once the dust settled.
In a surprising twist, the Flames were the only NHL team to leave the Olympics without a single medal. While every other team had at least one player standing on the podium, the Flames' representative, Martin Pospisil of Slovakia, returned home empty-handed.
A Lone Flame in the Olympics
Heading into the tournament, the Flames were already at a disadvantage with just one player participating. Martin Pospisil was their sole representative, and unlike many teams, Calgary had no players in the powerhouse squads of Canada, the U.S., Finland, or Sweden.
Here's a snapshot of NHL team participation at the 2026 Olympics:
- Calgary Flames: 1 (Slovakia)
- Chicago Blackhawks: 1 (Finland)
- Buffalo Sabres: 2 (U.S.A, Sweden)
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 2 (U.S.A, Latvia)
- New York Islanders: 2 (Canada, Czechia)
- Detroit Red Wings: 3 (U.S.A, Sweden, Germany)
- Edmonton Oilers: 3 (Canada, Germany, Germany)
- New York Rangers: 3 (U.S.A, U.S.A, Sweden)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 3 (Canada, Finland, Czechia)
- Washington Capitals: 3 (Canada, Canada, Slovakia)
With only ten teams sending three or fewer players, the Flames and Blackhawks shared the distinction of having the least representation, each with just one player.
The Medal Count
The Flames' Olympic journey ended without any hardware to show. While teams like the Florida Panthers dominated with seven medals, and others like the Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars followed closely with six, Calgary was left out in the cold.
Here’s how the medal tally looked:
- Calgary Flames: 0
- Chicago Blackhawks: 1 (Bronze)
- Vancouver Canucks: 1 (Bronze)
- Edmonton Oilers: 1 (Silver)
- San Jose Sharks: 1 (Silver)
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 1 (Silver)
- New York Islanders: 1 (Silver)
- New Jersey Devils: 1 (Gold)
- Detroit Red Wings: 1 (Gold)
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 1 (Gold)
- Buffalo Sabres: 1 (Gold)
With Slovakia missing out on a bronze, Pospisil and the Flames found themselves as the only team without a medal to their name. As the Flames look ahead to the next Olympic cycle, they’ll surely aim for a stronger showing in 2030. Here’s hoping for a brighter outcome next time around.