Sam Bennett’s Olympic Dream Revived After Last-Minute Call to Team Canada
Sam Bennett was ready to move on. The Florida Panthers center had told his parents to scrap their plans for Italy.
His Olympic hopes? As far as he was concerned, they were over.
But hockey has a funny way of flipping the script.
On Tuesday, Bennett got the call he thought might never come - he’d be joining Team Canada for the 2026 Winter Olympics as an injury replacement for Anthony Cirelli of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Just like that, disappointment turned into elation.
“An amazing day,” Bennett said, beaming. “You go from feeling crushed, wondering what you could’ve done differently, to getting that call - it’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. It means the world.”
At 29, Bennett’s path to this moment has been anything but straightforward. He made a strong case for himself at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he played a key role for Team Canada.
His most memorable moment? A spirited tilt with Brady Tkachuk after Bennett’s Panthers teammate, Matthew Tkachuk, dropped the gloves with Brandon Hagel.
It was a sequence that showed Bennett’s fire, loyalty, and willingness to step up in the big moments.
And then there was the equalizer - a clutch, game-tying goal in the final against the U.S. that set the stage for Connor McDavid’s dramatic overtime winner. It was the kind of performance that turns heads and raises eyebrows.
But when the final Olympic roster dropped on December 31, 2025, Bennett’s name wasn’t on it. That stung.
“It’s been tough,” he admitted. “I was really disappointed.
I tried not to let it affect my game or my life, just kept showing up, working hard, and staying positive. But it’s always there in the back of your mind - that little hope.
You just never know.”
Hope, as it turns out, was enough.
Now, Bennett finds himself with a shot at the biggest stage in international hockey. And for a player who’s battled through ups and downs, who’s earned every inch with grit and determination, this moment feels well-deserved.
“I’m very grateful,” he said. “In the end, it worked out.”
For Team Canada, Bennett brings a blend of tenacity, experience, and big-game poise. For Bennett, it’s a chance to wear the maple leaf on his chest - not just as a symbol of national pride, but as proof that perseverance pays off.