Sebastian Aho Embracing Olympic Moment, Leadership Role with Team Finland
RALEIGH, N.C. - Sebastian Aho is no stranger to big stages. But this one?
It’s different. The Carolina Hurricanes star is stepping into Olympic hockey for the first time - and he’s doing it with a letter on his chest.
Aho has been named an alternate captain for Team Finland ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, joining a leadership group that features captain Mikael Granlund (Anaheim Ducks) and fellow alternate Mikko Rantanen (Dallas Stars). It’s a nod to the respect Aho commands not just in NHL circles, but across the international hockey landscape.
This isn’t his first time wearing the “A” for his country - he also wore it during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off - but this time, it’s on the sport’s biggest international stage, and the moment isn’t lost on him.
“We're a tight-knit group,” Aho said Sunday. “Everyone's pulling on the same rope here, so it's an unbelievable feeling when you put this jersey on.
You can feel it - from the equipment guys, the coaches, your brothers... There's a special bond.
It's an easy group to wear a letter with, and I'm obviously very honored to have the opportunity.”
For Aho, this Olympic debut comes at a time when NHL players are finally back in the Games for the first time since 2014. The 4 Nations Face-Off served as a warm-up - a welcome return to best-on-best international competition after a long absence since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey - but the Olympics bring a different kind of energy.
And Aho feels it.
“You definitely sense that you're around something big here,” he said. “It's so huge for hockey in general, and as players, it's a dream come true to put this jersey on on the Olympic stage.
I can definitely feel it's a big event, but at the same time, it's hockey. We just have to enjoy it and take it all in.”
That balance - embracing the moment while staying grounded in the game - is exactly why Aho is such a natural fit in a leadership role. He’s not just Finland’s top offensive weapon; he’s the kind of player teammates rally around. His calm, focused approach and high-level consistency have made him a cornerstone in Carolina, and now he’ll look to bring that same presence to a Finnish squad with medal aspirations.
Finland opens its Olympic campaign on Feb. 11 against Slovakia at 10:40 a.m. ET - a marquee matchup to kick off the men’s hockey tournament. With Aho helping to set the tone, the Finns aren’t just showing up - they’re aiming to make noise.
And if Aho’s play this season is any indication, he’s more than ready for the spotlight.