Canucks Players Wrap Up Olympic Preliminary Round: Mixed Results, Strong Individual Performances
As the preliminary round of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics came to a close, five Vancouver Canucks players suited up for their respective countries, hoping to help their teams lock in stronger positions heading into the knockout stage. But while the individual efforts were there, the results didn’t go their way-Czechia, Latvia, and Germany all came up short in their final group-stage games.
Let’s break down how each Canuck performed and what it means heading into the qualifier round.
Switzerland 4, Czechia 3 (OT): Hronek and Kämpf Shine Despite the Loss
This one was a heartbreaker for Czechia. After clawing their way back to force overtime, they fell just short against Switzerland, dropping their second game of the tournament and finishing third in Group A.
But if you’re looking for positives from a Canucks perspective, start with Filip Hronek. The Czech blueliner was a workhorse once again, leading his team in ice time with 26:14-including nearly a full minute in the brief overtime period.
He also chipped in offensively, picking up an assist on Martin Nečas’ game-tying goal and finishing with a +3 rating. Hronek continues to be a stabilizing force on the back end, logging heavy minutes and making his presence felt at both ends of the ice.
David Kämpf also made an impact. The veteran center logged just over 15 minutes of ice time and was on the ice for 21 seconds of OT.
He set the tone early, assisting on Filip Chlapik’s opening goal, and like Hronek, finished with a +3. Kämpf has been a quiet contributor throughout the tournament, but his two-way play and poise in key moments have been valuable for Czechia.
Despite the loss, both players head into the qualifier round with momentum-and they’ll need it. Czechia now faces Denmark in a win-or-go-home matchup.
Denmark 4, Latvia 2: Blueger, Ravinskis Held Off the Scoresheet
Latvia made a late push, trimming a 3-0 deficit down to 3-2, but Denmark held firm and iced the game with an empty-netter. For Teddy Blueger and Anri Ravinskis, it was another tough outing in a tournament that hasn’t offered much room to shine.
Blueger logged 16:40 of ice time and recorded a shot on goal, but is still searching for his first point of the Olympics. He’s been steady in his role, eating up minutes and playing responsibly, but the offensive production just hasn’t come yet.
Ravinskis, meanwhile, saw limited action-just 4:15 total, and none in the third period. Like Blueger, he also remains without a point.
Latvia now faces a tough test in the qualifier round against Sweden. For Blueger and Ravinskis, it’s a chance to reset and make a statement in a pressure-packed elimination game.
USA 5, Germany 1: Reichel Gets New Linemates, But Offense Stalls
Germany came into their final group game with a respectable goal differential (6:5), but that took a hit after a 5-1 loss to a dominant U.S. squad. The Americans came out flying, and Germany simply couldn’t keep pace.
For Lukas Reichel, the game brought a bit of a shakeup. He started the night on a new line with Tim Stützle and JJ Peterka, moving away from his usual spot alongside Marc Michaelis and Dominik Kahun. The hope was that the new trio might generate some offensive spark, but the results were limited-Reichel finished with one shot on goal and logged 14:31 of ice time.
Germany still advances to the qualifier round, where they’ll face France. Reichel and company will look to regroup and lean on their offensive depth to get back on track.
Group Standings After Preliminary Round
Group A
- Canada: 3-0-0-0
- Switzerland: 1-1-0-1
- Czechia: 1-0-1-1
- France: 0-0-0-3
Group B
- Slovakia: 2-0-0-1
- Finland: 2-0-0-1
- Sweden: 2-0-0-1
- Italy: 0-0-0-3
Group C
- USA: 3-0-0-0
- Germany: 1-0-0-2
- Denmark: 1-0-0-2
- Latvia: 1-0-0-2
Qualifier Round Matchups Set
With the group stage wrapped, the bracket is set for the qualifier round:
- Czechia vs. Denmark
- Sweden vs. Latvia
- Germany vs. France
- Switzerland vs. Italy
For the Canucks players still in the mix, it’s now win or go home. The next few days will determine who gets a shot at Olympic glory-and who’s heading back to Vancouver earlier than hoped.