The U.S. men’s hockey team has appointed Auston Matthews as captain for the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. This announcement came on Sunday and marks an important leadership role for Matthews, who previously served as captain during the Four Nations Face-Off in February 2025. In that tournament, the U.S. team reached the finals but ultimately lost to Canada in overtime.
Joining Matthews in leadership positions are alternate captains Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk. Bill Guerin, the general manager of the U.S. team, expressed confidence in their abilities, stating, “Auston, Charlie and Matthew did a great job in leading our team a year ago at Four Nations, and it’s great to have them back in those roles for the Olympics.” He emphasized the unique leadership qualities each player brings and highlighted the excitement surrounding Team USA’s participation.
At 28 years old, Matthews has had an impressive NHL season thus far, recording 48 points in 51 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, with a tally of 26 goals and 22 assists. As a former No. 1 overall draft pick and the winner of the 2021-22 Hart Memorial Trophy for league MVP, Matthews is among a cohort of young stars making their Olympic debut. This will be the first time since 2014 that NHL players have competed in the men’s hockey event at the Olympics.
Both McAvoy and Tkachuk bring additional valuable experience to the squad. McAvoy, also 28, has contributed four goals and 35 assists in 45 games as a defenseman for the Boston Bruins. Meanwhile, Tkachuk recently returned from offseason hernia surgery and has played in 10 games for the Florida Panthers leading up to the Olympic break.
As the women’s hockey competition unfolds in Milan, the men’s tournament is set to begin on Wednesday. Team USA will face Latvia in their opening match on Thursday. Most NHL players arrived in Italy early on Sunday morning, and Team USA held its first practice later that day, gearing up for the challenges that lie ahead.
With high expectations and a strong leadership team, the U.S. men’s hockey squad is ready to make its mark at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.
