Because the U.S. males’s hockey workforce will get set to start its quest for gold on the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics, it should attempt to shake off an unpleasant historical past of abroad performances. Since NHL gamers first went to the Olympics in 1998, the Individuals have by no means medaled exterior of North America. 

Can that change over the following two weeks?

Whereas the U.S. acquired some robust outcomes at Olympics held in North America — silver in Salt Lake Metropolis (2002) and Vancouver (2010) — it has not fared practically as properly throughout the pond. In three makes an attempt, the Individuals haven’t completed higher than fourth, they usually have a mixed six wins.

Crew USA’s efficiency on the 2006 Turin Olympics was particularly dangerous. That aim differential was propped up by a moderately unimpressive 4-1 win over Kazakhstan, and Crew USA tied Latvia. Regardless of that, the U.S. nonetheless managed to succeed in the quarterfinals, the place it misplaced to Finland.

Explaining that huge disparity in outcomes is a little bit difficult. Did the hometown followers make a distinction in 2002 and — to a lesser diploma — in 2010? Does the journey actually make that huge of an influence? It appears unlikely. Regardless of the cause, the Individuals have persistently come dwelling empty-handed, and that will be an particularly stunning and devastating outcome with the energy of the roster in 2026.

Let’s take a deeper dive into why the 2026 Olympic hockey workforce is poised to do what different groups could not.

Improved improvement

For a lot of the twentieth century, the US struggled to develop stars on the similar price as different international locations like Canada, Sweden and Russia. There is no higher proof of that than the World Junior Championship, an under-20 match held yearly since 1977. The Individuals did not win their first match till 2004, they usually earned silver or bronze simply 3 times within the prior 27 makes an attempt. Since successful their first gold medal in 2004, the Individuals have received the occasion seven instances, together with back-to-back championships in 2024-25.

That drastic enchancment was preceded by a pointy bump in youth hockey numbers. In line with USA Hockey, there was a complete of 195,125 registered ice hockey gamers within the 1990-91 season. By the 1997-98 season, that quantity had greater than doubled to 401,218. Registration crossed the five hundred,000 mark in 2010-11. Throughout that interval, USA Hockey started the U.S. Nationwide Crew Growth Program, which identifies elite expertise and develops these gamers into professionals. For the reason that founding of that program in 1996, it has produced 432 NHL draftees.

Crew USA 2026 Olympic hockey roster: Tkachuk brothers workforce as much as lead Individuals in Italy

Austin Nivison

Sixteen of these U.S. NTDP draftees are on the 2026 Olympic roster. Everybody on the workforce was born between 1991 and 2002, which implies this squad is a product of the youth hockey explosion within the U.S. in addition to a extra concerted effort by USA Hockey to mildew these gamers into stars. The 1998 and 2006 Olympic groups did not get that profit, and also you began to see enchancment in 2014, even when it did not end in a medal. In spite of everything, the Individuals had been two photographs away from being within the gold medal sport after a 1-0 semifinal loss to Canada.

Enjoying higher abroad begins with bringing higher gamers to these tournaments. As apparent because it sounds, that is in all probability the largest cause why Crew USA is poised to alter the narrative in Europe this 12 months.

Main strides in goaltending

This part goes hand-in-hand with the event we simply mentioned above, however few issues have improved inside U.S. Hockey as a lot because the goaltending. Evaluate the 2026 Olympic trio — Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger and Jeremy Swayman — with people who Crew USA introduced in 1998, 2006 and 2014, and there’s little comparability.

1998

• John Vanbiesbrouck
• Man Hebert
• Mike Richter

Within the case of all three goaltenders, they had been gifted however nearer to the top of their careers than the start. Vanbiesbrouck had a Vezina Trophy on his resume, nevertheless it got here greater than a decade earlier in 1986. Hebert had some excessive peaks in his profession, however by no means completed increased than fourth in Vezina voting. Richter had a Stanley Cup to his identify, however he was additionally within the midst of a down season when he went to the Olympics.

2006

• Rick DiPietro
• Robert Esche
• John Grahame

That is in all probability the worst trio the U.S. ever introduced abroad for the Olympics. DiPietro is taken into account one of many largest busts in NHL Draft historical past, Esche by no means performed greater than 40 video games in a single season and Grahame was a full-time starter for one season in 2005-06.

2014

• Jimmy Howard
• Ryan Miller
• Jonathan Fast

This can be a stable goaltending room, and to be honest, stopping the puck wasn’t the issue for the 2014 Olympic workforce. Miller was a Vezina Trophy winner, and Fast already had a Conn Smythe Trophy below his belt (he would win a second Stanley Cup simply months after the Olympics). The weak hyperlink right here was in all probability Howard, who was excellent for a lot of his 14-year profession however by no means actually reached star standing.

The 9 goaltenders listed above mixed for 2 Vezina Trophy wins. Hellebuyck has three and has already established himself as the very best American goalie in historical past whereas nonetheless in his prime. Hellebuyck is fifth amongst American goalies all-time in wins (335), fourth in save share (.917) and second in shutouts (45).

Oettinger is sixth in GAA (2.55), ninth in save share (.910) and fifteenth in wins (172) on the age of 27. Swayman, additionally 27, is within the prime 25 of all three classes as properly.

Goaltending has turn out to be the energy of USA Hockey. Particularly with Russia unable to compete in 2026, the Individuals ought to have the clear edge in aim in opposition to each workforce they face. That was not one thing that could possibly be mentioned in previous journeys abroad.

Favorable path

Crew USA has a really favorable attract its effort to medal throughout the pond with NHLers for the primary time ever. The Individuals will keep away from Canada, Sweden, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland and Slovakia till a minimum of the primary stage of the knockout spherical.

Crew USA’s hardest check within the spherical robin stage will doubtless come in opposition to Germany, a workforce with +5000 odds to win gold, in response to DraftKings. That ought to — and “ought to” is a key phrase for this workforce — imply the Individuals (+175 to win gold, simply behind favorites Canada at +115) will attain the quarterfinals with out encountering an excessive amount of turbulence. Coach Mike Sullivan ought to be capable of rotate goalies as he sees match whereas additionally preserving his skaters rested till the heavyweight fights start.

In the meantime, Canada attracts Czechia (+2500) and Switzerland (+2500), two groups that could possibly be nuisances to the large canines within the match. Sweden (+650) and Finland (+1000) draw each other whereas additionally getting Slovakia (+6500), one other workforce that might show troublesome if the Finns and Swedes overlook the matchup.

Possibly there’s an argument that it might be higher for Crew USA to be battle-tested by the point it will get to the knockout stage, however the smaller sheet of ice might imply this match is extra bodily than previous Olympics. If that is the case, the Individuals doubtless will not thoughts contemporary legs and our bodies.