LA Kings Stars Set for Olympic Semifinal Showdown

Doughty, Armia, Kuemper to face off in high-stakes matchup

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The 2026 Winter Olympics have reached the medal round, and the LA Kings will be well-represented. Defenseman Drew Doughty and goaltender Darcy Kuemper will suit up for Team Canada, while forward Joel Armia will play for Team Finland. The three Kings stars will square off in a semifinal matchup on Friday, with a chance to compete for Olympic gold on the line.

Why it matters

The Kings' strong showing at the Olympics highlights the depth and talent on the roster, with multiple players and staff members competing at the highest level of international hockey. A medal-round appearance also provides valuable experience for the Kings' stars as they prepare to lead the team's push for the Stanley Cup.

The details

Doughty logged over 14 minutes of ice time as Team Canada edged Czechia 4-3 in overtime to advance to the semifinals. Kuemper did not see action in that game, with Jordan Binnington of the Blues starting in net for Canada. Armia, meanwhile, helped Finland rally from a two-goal deficit to defeat Switzerland 3-2 in overtime, setting up the clash with his Kings teammates.

  • The semifinal matchup between Canada (Doughty, Kuemper) and Finland (Armia) will take place on Friday, February 20 at 7:40 AM Pacific time.
  • The bronze medal game is scheduled for Saturday, February 21 at 11:40 AM Pacific.
  • The gold medal game will be played on Sunday, February 22 at 5:10 AM Pacific.

The players

Drew Doughty

A defenseman for the LA Kings who is representing Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Darcy Kuemper

A goaltender for the LA Kings who is also on Team Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Joel Armia

A forward for the LA Kings who is playing for Team Finland at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Darren Granger

The head equipment manager for the LA Kings, who is serving in the same role for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Mike Buckley

The goaltending coach for the LA Kings, who is also the goaltending coach for Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Proud of you, 🧃”

— LA Kings (Twitter)

What’s next

The winner of the semifinal matchup between Canada (Doughty, Kuemper) and Finland (Armia) will advance to the gold medal game on Sunday, February 22. The losing team will play in the bronze medal game on Saturday, February 21.

The takeaway

The LA Kings' strong representation at the 2026 Winter Olympics, with three players and two staff members competing at the highest level, underscores the depth and talent on the roster. A medal-round appearance for the Kings' stars will provide invaluable experience as they look to lead the team's push for the Stanley Cup.