Blues’ Jordan Binnington to start Canada’s first Olympic game against Czechia
Just like in Montreal and Boston a year ago at the 4 Nations Face-Off, St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington will get the start in Game 1 of Canada’s quest for gold at the 2026 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament.
The Canadians will take on Czechia at 10:40 AM ET on Thursday, marking the return of NHLers for the first time since 2014.
Canada took part in its final pre-tournament skate on Thursday, with reports saying Binnington practiced in his own net. Darcy Kuemper and Logan Thompson shared the other crease.
The 32-year-old first represented Canada as a backup at the 2013 World Juniors. After winning the Stanley Cup with St. Louis in 2019, Binnington went on to establish himself as the team’s starter. While he has had some strong showings – including a 6-2 run with Canada at the 2024 World Championship – Binnington has been one of the worst starters in the NHL over the past two seasons. Despite that, Binnington led Canada to gold at the inaugural 4 Nations Face-Off and registered two shutouts in three victories at the 2025 World Championship a few months later.
While Binnington will get the first start, it’s unclear how coach Jon Cooper will handle the starts for Canada’s other two preliminary-round games. Canada will face Switzerland on Friday before finishing up the round robin against France on Sunday afternoon.
“I think the advantage here is that Canada plays its back-to-back right away because it kind of forces you to play more than one goalie with those first two days,” Daily Faceoff’s managing editor and senior writer Matt Larkin said earlier this week. “To me, you have to treat Czechia as the most important game. It’s the toughest opponent in Canada’s group. I think you have to give Binnington that first start. He earned it.
“We can hate on him as much as we want, but he’s playing on a bad St. Louis Blues team this year as well,” Larkin continued. “And if outdueling Connor Hellebuyck in the final game of the Four Nations wasn’t enough to keep the crease, then what is? You’ve got to give Binnington that first look.”
Some shuffling at Canada's 🇨🇦 practice today. Hagel & Reinhart up with MacKinnon. Marchand & Suzuki down to the Horvat line. Two of Jarvis, Bennett, Harley, Doughty will dress as the 19th and 20th skaters on Thursday.
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