It’s been a long time coming - 4,371 days, to be exact - but NHL players are finally heading back to the Winter Olympics. When the puck drops in Italy on February 11, seven current members of the Vancouver Canucks organization will be suiting up for their respective countries, looking to carve out their own Olympic legacy.
Elias Pettersson (Sweden), Kevin Lankinen (Finland), Teddy Blueger and Anri Ravinskis (Latvia), Filip Hronek and David Kämpf (Czechia), and Lukas Reichel (Germany) will all represent their nations in the 2026 Winter Olympics. And if any of them manage to reach the podium, they’ll join a proud list of 14 other players who have medaled while part of the Canucks organization since 2000.
A Gold Standard: The Early 2000s
The Canucks’ Olympic medal history in the 21st century starts back in 2002, when Ed Jovanovski helped Team Canada capture gold in Salt Lake City. That Canadian squad didn’t exactly cruise through the round-robin, winning just one of three games, but they found their stride when it mattered most.
Canada edged Finland 2-1 in the quarterfinals, steamrolled Belarus 7-1 in the semis, and then topped the U.S. 5-2 to claim gold. Jovanovski played a steady, two-way role throughout the tournament, notching three assists over six games.
2006: A Canuck-Filled Final
Fast forward to Turin in 2006, and the Canucks’ Olympic footprint expanded in a big way. Five players from the organization medaled, with Sweden and Finland facing off in the gold medal game.
On the Swedish side: Mattias Öhlund, and the Sedin twins, Henrik and Daniel. Across the ice: Sami Salo and Jarkko Ruutu, representing Finland.
Sweden’s path to gold featured a dominant knockout stage - a 6-2 win over Switzerland in the quarters and a 7-3 rout of Czechia in the semis - before edging Finland 3-2 in the final. Finland, for their part, had been perfect up until that point, going undefeated in the prelims and shutting out Russia 4-0 in the semifinals.
Stat-wise, Salo and Daniel Sedin each finished with a goal and three assists. Henrik Sedin added three goals and an assist, while Öhlund chipped in two assists during the gold-medal run. It was a showcase of international talent - and a reminder of just how global the Canucks’ roster had become.
2010: Gold on Home Ice
Vancouver was the center of the hockey world in 2010, and the Canucks were right in the thick of it. Roberto Luongo backstopped Team Canada to gold, while his Canucks teammate Ryan Kesler suited up for Team USA. Meanwhile, Salo helped Finland earn bronze, marking his second straight Olympic medal.
Luongo was rock solid in net for Canada, going 5-0-0 with a 1.76 goals-against average and a .927 save percentage. After splitting preliminary round games - including a tough 5-3 loss to the U.S. - Canada found its rhythm, taking down Germany and Russia before edging the Americans 3-2 in a dramatic overtime finish. That win, on home ice, became an instant classic - the kind of moment that defines careers and cements legacies.
2014: The Last Dance (Until Now)
The 2014 Sochi Olympics marked the last time NHL players hit the Olympic stage - and once again, the Canucks were well-represented. Five players from the organization medaled, with another gold medal showdown featuring teammates on opposite sides.
This time, it was Canada vs. Sweden in the final.
Luongo and Dan Hamhuis suited up for Canada, while the Sedins and Alex Edler played for Sweden. Canada came out on top, 3-0, capping off a flawless tournament in which they went undefeated in six games.
Along the way, they edged Latvia 2-1, shut out the U.S. 1-0 in the semis, and then blanked Sweden for gold.
Sweden had looked strong as well, with wins over Czechia, Switzerland, Latvia, Slovenia, and Finland. But Canada’s defensive dominance and goaltending proved too much in the final.
2026: A New Chapter Begins
Now, after a 12-year absence, the NHL is back on the Olympic stage - and so are the Canucks. Here’s when you can catch Vancouver’s Olympians in action:
- February 11 Kevin Lankinen and Finland vs.
Slovakia at 7:40 a.m. PT
- Elias Pettersson and Sweden vs. Italy at 12:10 p.m.
PT
- February 12 Filip Hronek and David Kämpf with Czechia vs.
Canada at 7:40 a.m. PT
- Lukas Reichel and Germany vs. Denmark at 12:10 p.m.
PT
- Teddy Blueger and Anri Ravinskis with Latvia vs.
USA at 12:10 p.m. PT
For these seven Canucks, the Olympics offer more than just a shot at a medal - it’s a chance to represent their countries on the biggest stage in international hockey. And if history is any indication, there’s a good chance one or more of them will come home with some hardware.
The countdown is over. Olympic hockey is back. Let the games begin.