United States and Canada reveal Olympic hockey line combinations in Milan
With NHL players returning to the Olympic stage for the first time since 2014, the United States and Canada unveiled their projected offensive trios during practices in Milan on Monday, offering an early look at how two gold medal contenders plan to deploy their star-studded rosters ahead of the men’s hockey tournament opening later this week.
U.S. head coach Mike Sullivan kept brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk together alongside Jack Eichel on the top line, a pairing that proved effective during the Four Nations Face-Off earlier this year. Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews centered the second unit with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy, while Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, and Tage Thompson rounded out the third line.
Canada coach Jon Cooper opted for a more unconventional approach, slotting 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini and power forward Tom Wilson alongside Connor McDavid on the top line. The move drew attention as neither Wilson nor Celebrini featured in the Four Nations tournament, signaling a willingness to experiment early in the competition.
Both teams also finalized leadership groups over the weekend. Matthews was named captain of the United States, with Matthew Tkachuk and defenseman Charlie McAvoy serving as alternates. U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said the trio had demonstrated strong leadership during last year’s Four Nations event and welcomed their continuation in those roles at the Olympics.
For Canada, Sidney Crosby was appointed captain as he pursues a third Olympic gold medal, having led the team to titles in 2010 and 2014. McDavid and Cale Makar were selected as alternate captains, reinforcing a leadership core blending experience with elite talent.
Cooper defended Canada’s atypical top-line configuration as part of managing pace and workload across a demanding tournament schedule. He noted that line combinations are expected to evolve, emphasizing that early choices provide a starting point rather than a final blueprint.
Canada’s second line features Brad Marchand and Nick Suzuki with Nathan MacKinnon, while Crosby skates on the third unit alongside Mark Stone and Mitch Marner. Wilson acknowledged the significance of his expanded role, describing the opportunity to play with McDavid and Celebrini as a major step.
The United States opens its Olympic campaign on Thursday against Latvia at the Milano Santagiulia arena, while Canada faces the Czech Republic the same day. The Americans are seeking their first men’s Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
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