US men's hockey names Auston Matthews as captain after first Olympic practice

Coach Mike Sullivan remains tight-lipped about team's lineup and strategy ahead of Thursday's opener against Latvia

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The U.S. men's ice hockey team held its first Olympic practice in Milan, Italy on Sunday and named Toronto Maple Leafs center Auston Matthews as the team captain. Head coach Mike Sullivan did not reveal much about his plans for the tournament, saying he wants to keep the opposition guessing. The American squad is stacked in goal and on defense, but the forward lines remain a mystery heading into Thursday's opener against Latvia.

Why it matters

The U.S. men's hockey team is looking to improve on its fourth-place finish at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. With a roster full of NHL talent, the Americans are among the favorites to medal in Milan. The choice of Auston Matthews as captain underscores the team's leadership and experience, which will be crucial in a high-pressure tournament setting.

The details

During Sunday's practice, coach Mike Sullivan did not name a starting goaltender or reveal his forward line combinations, saying he wants to keep the team's strategy under wraps. The U.S. has a deep pool of goaltenders to choose from, including reigning NHL MVP Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, and Jeremy Swayman. On defense, the team will be led by Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes, who could be paired with Brock Faber or Charlie McAvoy. Up front, the initial indication was that Jack Eichel would center a line with brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk, while Auston Matthews would play between Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy.

  • The U.S. men's hockey team held its first Olympic practice on Sunday, February 5, 2026.
  • The U.S. will play its first Olympic game against Latvia on Thursday, February 9, 2026.

The players

Auston Matthews

A 28-year-old center who plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs and was named captain of the U.S. men's hockey team for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Matthews is the first U.S.-born player to serve as captain of the Maple Leafs.

Mike Sullivan

The head coach of the U.S. men's hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Sullivan is a two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Connor Hellebuyck

A goaltender for the U.S. men's hockey team and the reigning NHL MVP.

Quinn Hughes

A defenseman for the U.S. men's hockey team who won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman last season.

Jack Eichel

A forward for the U.S. men's hockey team who is expected to center a line with brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk.

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What they’re saying

“We'll see how it goes. We have an idea of what we want to start with, and that will start to unfold here over the next couple of days.”

— Mike Sullivan, Head Coach, U.S. Men's Hockey Team (wbir.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, Goaltender, U.S. Men's Hockey Team (wbir.com)

“It is crazy to think now we are here, and we get this opportunity, and it is very special. Extremely honored to represent (my) country and wear the Team USA jersey. It means that much more doing it somewhere like the Olympics.”

— Auston Matthews, Captain, U.S. Men's Hockey Team (wbir.com)

What’s next

The U.S. men's hockey team will continue practicing in Milan ahead of its Olympic opener against Latvia on Thursday, February 9, 2026. Coach Mike Sullivan is expected to name his starting goaltender and finalize his forward line combinations in the coming days.

The takeaway

With a roster full of NHL talent and a proven head coach in Mike Sullivan, the U.S. men's hockey team is poised to be a medal contender at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan. The choice of Auston Matthews as captain underscores the team's leadership and experience, which will be crucial in a high-pressure tournament setting.