Leafs’ Auston Matthews named captain of USA’s men’s Olympic team

A star-studded trio is set to lead the stars and stripes.

On Sunday, USA Hockey announced its captains for the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will captain the American squad in Milan. Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy and Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk have been named as alternates for the upcoming tournament.

The three players were part of the core that led the Americans into the 4 Nations Face-Off last year, with Matthews wearing the ‘C’ then as well. McAvoy and Tkachuk were both injured during the in-season showcase, with McAvoy missing the final against Canada. Tkachuk played very little in that championship game due to an injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2024-25 regular season.

Last year’s showcase was Matthews’ first international experience since playing for Team North America at the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, and the first time he’s represented his country since the 2016 IIHF Men’s World Championship. With Team USA, he has won two gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championships and a bronze in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Tkachuk and McAvoy were on the bronze medal team 10 years ago, as well as the gold medal alongside Matthews at the 2015 U-18s. McAvoy won gold at the 2017 World Juniors, along with a bronze at the 2018 Men’s Worlds.

In the “NHL era” of the Olympic hockey tournaments, the U.S. has made it to the gold medal game twice, losing to Canada in the 2002 and 2010 finals. This year’s team hopes to right that story in their favor, hoping to win gold for the first time since 1980.

The Americans go up against Latvia to open up Group C play on Thursday.