The 2026 Olympics for Canadians
Julia Finot, Staff Writer
The road to Milano Cortina is heating up. As the 2026 Olympic Winter Games approach, Canada is once again preparing to make its mark on the world’s biggest stage. As one of the most successful countries at the games historically, Canada is entering Milan with high expectations, consisting of a team of seasoned veterans and emerging talents.
Canada will compete in 16 events in Milan, aiming to keep up their success from past games. At the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing, Canada walked away with 26 medals, a milestone this year’s team would like to surpass.
Navigating the Olympics can be quite overwhelming, and with immense talent representing our country across almost every discipline, it can feel impossible to watch every event. However, some Canadian athletes and some Olympic events will be impossible to miss.
Men’s ice hockey
Men’s hockey fans already got a sneak peek of Canada’s potential roster during the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025. Although Canada won, the Olympic roster features some new players who bring fresh passion and skill.
The most notable addition to this roster is 19-year-old forward Macklin Celebrini. The Vancouver native was selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 2024 National Hockey League (NHL) Entry Draft. Since joining the league, Celebrini has put up impressive numbers and is currently ranked in the NHL’s top five in points, earning the role of assistant captain with the Sharks.
Celebrini has yet to win gold in his hockey career wearing Canada’s jersey, but earned bronze back in 2023 at the IIHF World U18 Championships.
Women’s ice hockey
Few Canadian women embody athletic success quite like Marie-Philip Poulin. As one of the most accomplished women to ever play the sport, she will lace up her skates for the fifth time at the Winter Games. In each of her Olympic appearances, she has won Canada a medal—three gold and one silver.
Poulin currently captains the Montreal Victoire of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and remains a largely prominent figure in Canada’s hockey community.
Entering Milan, she is just two goals shy of the Olympic record for most goals, currently held by Hayley Wickenheiser with 18.
Mixed doubles curling
Canada’s mixed doubles pair in curling will be represented by married couple Brett Gallant and Jocelyn Peterman. Both athletes bring Olympic experience, having competed in Beijing in 2022. Gallant won bronze with Team Brad Gushue, and Peterman placed fifth alongside Team Kaitlyn Lawes.
Beyond the Olympics, the pair have deep roots in southern Alberta. Not only do they represent the town of Chestermere, but they also represent the University of Calgary. Peterman is the head coach of the Dinos Women’s Curling team, while Gallant is the skills development coach.
Gallant will also compete in the men’s curling event as he is the second on Team Brad Jacobs.
Figure skating
Canada is entering Milan as one of the strongest figure skating teams. The team is led by familiar faces, including ice dancing pair Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier, alongside women’s single skater Madeline Schizas.
The most remarkable story on this roster belongs to pair skaters Deanna Stellato-Dudek and Maxime Deschamps. At 42, Stellato-Dudek retired from the sport in 2001 and has made her return after 16 years. She dreamed of competing in the 2006 Winter Games in Turin and is now making her Italian Olympic dreams a reality 20 years later.
Stellato-Dudek and Deschamps won the world championship in 2024 and have continued to build momentum for the games. Stellato-Dudek has not only made history as the oldest competitor, but also as the first skater in history to perform an assisted backflip in competition.
Milan will also be Deschamps’ first time competing at the Olympics.
Snowboarding
Multi-medalist Mark McMorris has established himself as one of Canada’s premier snowboarders. Milan will compete in his fourth Olympic Games, and he is aiming to win his first-ever gold. In every winter games he has competed in, McMorris has earned himself a bronze medal.
McMorris often came second-best to another Canadian snowboarder, Max Parrot. With Parrot not competing in Milan, McMorris has the opportunity to establish himself as Canada’s top male snowboarder in the Slopestyle and Big Air events.
Hailing from Regina, McMorris shatters doubts about the Prairies’ ability to develop snowboarding talent and is sure to put on a show in Milan.
Speed skating
In 2022, Steven Dubois left Beijing with three Olympic medals around his neck; one gold, silver and bronze. Dubois is a versatile short-track speed skater representing Canada in some of the biggest events. At the last winter games, Dubois competed in the Men’s 500m, 1500m, 5000m relay, and team relay.
Dubois is one of the most decorated short-track skaters in Canadian history, after only competing in one Olympics.
He is returning to the Winter Games along with teammates Maxime Laoun and Jordan Pierre-Gilles, who hope they can once again capture gold in the 5000m relay.
Whether it’s the veterans chasing history, newcomers fighting for their first medal, or athletes having their dreams come true, the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics are bound to bring moments that will define athletes’ careers and moments Canadians will never forget. As the games quickly approach, all eyes will be on Team Canada to bring home as many gold medals as possible.
