Connor McDavid is heading to the 2026 Winter Olympics with a letter on his sweater - and not just any letter.
Hockey Canada officially named McDavid an alternate captain for Team Canada’s men’s national team on Sunday, solidifying the Edmonton Oilers star’s leadership role on a roster stacked with talent. Sidney Crosby, the veteran from the Pittsburgh Penguins and a three-time Olympic medalist, will wear the “C,” while Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar joins McDavid as the other alternate.
For McDavid, this is more than just another international appearance - it’s a moment that’s been building for over a decade. The Newmarket, Ontario native has worn the maple leaf across nearly every major stage: gold at the 2013 U18 World Championship, back-to-back golds at the World Juniors in 2014 and 2015, and more gold at the 2016 and 2018 IIHF World Championships. Most recently, he helped lead Canada to a title at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, where he scored the tournament-winning goal in the final against Team USA.
And while Olympic hockey is a different beast altogether, McDavid’s resume speaks for itself. At 29, he’s not just the consensus best player in the world - he’s also the fifth-longest serving active captain in the NHL.
His presence in Canada’s leadership group feels less like a decision and more like a formality. This is his team as much as it is Crosby’s.
“It’s the Olympic Games, but it’s a hockey tournament at the end of the day, and we’re there to play hockey and we’re there to do a job,” McDavid told reporters in Edmonton on January 28. That’s classic McDavid - focused, grounded, and laser-locked on the task at hand. He acknowledged the unique setup of these particular Games, with events spread across Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, but made it clear: the mission is to win.
And with McDavid on board, Canada’s chances look as strong as ever. His combination of speed, vision, and elite-level execution is tailor-made for the wide-open international ice surface, and his chemistry with fellow NHL stars could be the difference-maker in tight matchups. Add in his leadership - both vocal and by example - and Canada’s leadership core is in steady hands.
Team Canada opens its Olympic campaign against Team Czechia on Thursday morning, with puck drop set for 8:40 a.m. Mountain time. All eyes will be on McDavid as he steps into yet another spotlight, this time with Olympic gold in his sights.