By Kurt Dusterberg
The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy will soon be on everyone’s radar. From February 6–22 we will shake off the winter blahs, immerse ourselves in a faraway locale, and root for our home country to bring home the gold.
In the Triangle, the Olympics offers a chance to celebrate the community’s deep love for hockey—an idea once unimaginable in the Raleigh-Durham area. That all changed when the Hartford Whalers moved to North Carolina in 1997, becoming the Carolina Hurricanes. Within a decade, the Hurricanes had secured their place on the sports landscape by winning the Stanley Cup in 2006. Today, the Canes are chasing their eighth straight playoff berth under the guidance of coach Rod Brind’Amour, the captain of the 2006 Stanley Cup team.
The Hurricanes’ recent success is fueled by many players who are deserving of Olympic consideration, but with just 12 countries in the tournament, roster spots are limited. National hockey federations will finalize rosters at the start of January, but some Hurricanes players have already been named, while others are certain to join their countries.
Among those who have already secured a spot are Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen and forward Nikolaj Ehlers, who will play for Team Denmark. Andersen is in his fifth season as the Hurricanes’ starter in the net, while Ehlers, an elite forward, signed with the team as a free agent last summer. Together, they helped the national team earn an at-large bid in a qualifying tournament in 2024. “Me and Fly [Ehlers] were there,” Andersen said. “We got to play those qualification games, and that was pretty special. It almost felt like winning a championship after we won the final game.”
The Olympic appearance is just the second for Denmark—which played in 2022, but without NHL players. “So this one will be special in many ways,” Andersen says. “We’re small, but we’re a proud national team.”
Sebastian Aho was one of the first six players named to the roster of Team Finland, a country that produces a remarkable number of the world’s best players. Fellow forward Jesperi Kotkaniemi could also make the Finnish roster. Aho, in his 10th season with the Hurricanes, has staked his claim as one of the franchise’s best players. Chasing a gold medal for his home country is a dream he’s held since childhood.
“It’s one of my favorite moments as a hockey fan, watching Team Finland play, watching your own idols,” Aho says. “There’s something special about representing your own country. When you add the Olympic factor, that’s the biggest you can have at the international level.”
Defenseman Jaccob Slavin is almost certain to play for Team USA. The 11-year veteran is widely regarded as the best defensive defenseman in the NHL. He will likely be on the ice against each team’s top forwards.
Forward Seth Jarvis is an emerging star at age 22, but making the Team Canada roster will be difficult. Hockey insiders agree, however, that he is on the cusp. Last February, he helped Canada win the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament that featured top NHL players. “Obviously, Canada has some firepower,” Aho says. “They have so many players. It’s a tough team to make, obviously. I was super proud of him making it last year, and it went well for him. I hope he’ll make the team for sure.”
The Olympic hockey tournament will likely feature other familiar faces who once wore a Hurricanes sweater. Chicago Blackhawks forward Teuvo Teräväínen could join Aho—the two were Hurricanes linemates for eight seasons—on Team Finland. Elias Lindholm, who played his first five NHL seasons for the Hurricanes, is likely to play for Team Sweden. Colorado Avalanche forward Martin Necas will play for Team Czechia, and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin could make Team USA.
All of this raises a dilemma for local hockey fans. With most Olympic sports, it’s natural to root for American athletes and teams. But when you have a National Hockey League team in your backyard, there’s a built-in conflict: How do you support your favorite player if he is skating for another country? As strange as it feels for fans, the players have issues, too. But they will put their loyalties on hold just long enough to wear the colors of their countries.
“Maybe it’s a little weird,” Aho says. “I was facing Slavo [Slavin] a lot last year at the 4 Nations. Maybe for the first shift it was kind of weird, but after that, you do whatever you can to win the hockey game. When the game is over, you can be friends again.”
