The Stars have made their mark at the 2026 Winter Olympics, bringing home an impressive haul of six medals, highlighted by a gold for Jake Oettinger and Team USA.
Oettinger, serving as the backup goalie, witnessed Team USA's thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Canada in the championship game. Meanwhile, Thomas Harley earned a silver with Canada, and the Finnish contingent of Mikko Rantanen, Esa Lindell, Roope Hintz, and Miro Heiskanen secured bronze. Despite Rantanen and Radek Faksa (Czechia) dealing with injuries, the Olympics were a triumph for the Stars' players.
“It’s a fantastic experience for every player,” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan remarked. “Competing at the highest level can only make you better.”
Harley logged significant ice time for Team Canada, ranking fourth with 118:14 minutes and contributing a goal and three assists. This experience should boost his confidence as he returns to the Stars, aiming to drive the team towards the playoffs.
“Proving to yourself and the world that you can compete at that level is huge,” Harley shared from Italy. “It makes the NHL game feel a bit slower.”
Heiskanen and Lindell, who logged the most minutes for Finland, are expected to bring their Olympic experience back to their defensive roles in Dallas. Their partnership will be key as the Stars push forward.
Rantanen’s lower body injury against Canada will be closely monitored, as the Stars gear up to face Seattle. With 25 games left in a packed schedule, Gulutzan is optimistic about the team’s practice plans, aiming to recapture the form that led to a six-game winning streak before the break.
“Our reloading, aggressiveness, and physicality were on another level in those last games,” Gulutzan noted. “We improved across the board.”
Stars forward Matt Duchene emphasized the team’s dedication during their mini training camp, focusing on the successful style of play.
“We understand why we succeeded,” Duchene explained. “It’s all about the mindset. Our work ethic is constant, but it’s the mentality that makes us tough to beat.”
Duchene highlighted the importance of attention to detail, echoing Gulutzan’s mantra of being “one percent better” in every aspect.
“We’re grasping what that one percent means,” Duchene said. “It’s about the small habits that simplify the game. It brought us balance and wins.”
Reuniting post-Olympics poses a minor challenge, but the team is eager to reconnect. The intense USA-Canada clash fueled competitive spirits.
Connor Hellebuyck’s 41 saves and Jack Hughes’ overtime heroics secured the gold for Team USA, a significant achievement since their last win in 1980, igniting a hunger for further success.
"I can't believe it," Hughes expressed in Italy. "USA-Canada was an incredible game. We were underdogs, but we made it happen."
Finland’s Stars shone in their 6-2 bronze medal victory over Slovakia, following a tight 3-2 semifinal loss to Canada.
“Winning a medal at the Olympics is huge,” Heiskanen said. “It was easy to get fired up for that.”