US coach Mike Sullivan tight-lipped on Olympic plans

Sullivan wants to keep opponents guessing ahead of tournament opener against Latvia

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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US men's hockey coach Mike Sullivan is keeping his plans close to the vest ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. Sullivan did not name a starting goaltender or reveal forward lines and defensive pairings during the team's first practice, saying "performance will inevitably be the dictator" in determining roles. The US has a deep roster, including reigning NHL MVP Connor Hellebuyck, playoff standout Jake Oettinger, and rising star Jeremy Swayman in net, as well as star power on the blue line and up front.

Why it matters

Sullivan's coy approach is likely an attempt to keep opponents off-balance and maintain flexibility with his lineup as the tournament progresses. The US is looking to improve on its runner-up finish at the 4 Nations event a year ago, where it lost to Canada in overtime.

The details

Sullivan said the team's first practice was designed to get the players' "blood moving" and adjust to the new time zone after traveling to Italy. He did not run forward lines or defensive pairings, saying that was "by design" as the coaching staff has "an idea of what we want to start with" that will "start to unfold here over the next couple of days." The US has a wealth of talent in net, on defense, and up front, giving Sullivan plenty of options to consider.

  • The US men's hockey team held its first practice in Milan on Sunday, February 9, 2026.
  • The US is set to open the Olympic tournament against Latvia on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the US men's hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Connor Hellebuyck

The reigning NHL MVP and a candidate to be the starting goaltender for the US Olympic team.

Jake Oettinger

A playoff-tested goaltender who is also in the mix to start for the US Olympic team.

Jeremy Swayman

A rising star goaltender who may earn a start for the US Olympic team after not appearing at the 4 Nations event a year ago.

Quinn Hughes

The reigning Norris Trophy winner as the NHL's top defenseman, who could pair with Wild teammate Brock Faber or Boston's Charlie McAvoy on the US blue line.

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What they’re saying

“At the end of the day, performance will inevitably be the dictator. In a tournament like this, it has to be. And so, we have an idea going in of how we want to go about it and how we want to approach it and we'll go from there.”

— Mike Sullivan, US men's hockey coach (wbal.com)

“We'll know soon enough.”

— Connor Hellebuyck (wbal.com)

“That's our job, baby: Make it hard for them. We want that. We want that high competitive environment, and I think it's only going to raise our own level as well as the team's level.”

— Jeremy Swayman (wbal.com)

What’s next

The US team will continue practicing and finalizing its lineup ahead of the tournament opener against Latvia on February 13.

The takeaway

Coach Sullivan's coy approach suggests the US has a deep, talented roster that will force tough decisions on the coaching staff. The competition for starting roles, especially in net, will push the players to raise their game and make the US a formidable opponent at the Olympics.