Men's Olympic Ice Hockey
2026 Olympic
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Canada has begun the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in dominant form, routing Czechia 5-0 in its opening game.
Macklin Celebrini, Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon and Nick Suzuki scored for Canada.
The lone negative for the Canadians was that Josh Morrissey left the game early in the second period and did not return.
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Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s first goal of the tournament when he tipped home a Cale Makar point shot with 5.7 seconds left to play in the first period. More importantly, he did not look like a 19-year-old teenager overwhelmed by the big stage. The physicality, the pace, the lack of space, none of it rattled Celebrini. Far from it. He looked composed and was making poised plays with the puck all over the ice.
There was some doubt as to whether the San Jose Sharks Hart Trophy candidate was ready for this stage in his second NHL season. It would be premature to suggest Celebrini erased that doubt after one game, but it would be easy for a player of his age and stature to have some nerves lining up on Canada’s top line with Connor McDavid and Tom Wilson.
If he had any nerves, Celebrini showed no evidence of them.
Binnington looked in 4 Nations form today against Czechia, tracking the puck well through traffic, looking very much at ease with Czech bodies around his net, and controlling his rebounds.
It’s just one game, but the decision to start Binnington can only be seen as a total vindication for the coaching staff. Because it had the potential to blow up in their face.
Does Logan Thompson deserve to start in the Olympics based on his season-long form? Of course. And he may start tomorrow against a tough Swiss team. But Binnington showed today why Team Canada was unwavering in its confidence in him despite his season-long struggles.
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There was much debate in a hockey-mad nation about who should start in goal for Team Canada, and the most popular choice judging by social media was certainly not Jordan Binnington.
But it should be no surprise that Binnington did indeed get the Olympic opener. There’s a strong belief that once Canada’s management and coaching staff agreed to put the struggling St. Louis Blues goalie on the roster Dec. 31, that came with the baked-in Game 1 assignment. If he’s making the team on his body of work from 4 Nations and not his current form, then the body of work does indeed get him the Game 1 start.
And not only did he win the game, Binnington got a shutout, something he did not do at 4 Nations.
Keep in mind what Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong, who doubles as Blues GM, told us back on Dec. 31, that Binnington was a unanimous choice from the management/coaching group:
“That was the most interesting part. Because my comfort level with him doesn’t waver. Because I get to work with him every day. And any success I’ve had in St. Louis is on his back,’’ Armstrong told The Athletic on Dec. 31. “But what impressed me the most was how little time the rest of the group thought about what Jordan’s numbers were this year. He carried the same respect from everyone in the group from coaches to management. Which was very impressive.”
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Canada coach Jon Cooper said after his team’s first practice on Sunday night that one of the reasons why Tom Wilson was playing with Connor McDavid was because everyone needs a good F1, or lead forechecker, on a line.
“And that big boy there is one of the best I’ve seen,” Cooper said of Wilson.
On his first shift, McDavid might have been telling his coach he doesn’t need any help in that department, and at the same time signaled to his team that after a couple of days of soaking in the Olympic experience, things were now serious.
When Canada got the puck deep, McDavid was shot out of a cannon in pursuit, and poor Czech defenseman Lukas Sedlak never knew what hit him, absorbing a massive hit from No. 97 that left a hush over the hugely partisan Czech crowd. Later that shift, Sedlak was called for holding McDavid.
A pretty good start to McDavid’s Olympic career.
Later on, early in the second period, Wilson showed that F1 prowess when he leveled Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas with a crushing hit along the end boards on the forecheck.
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Canada defenseman Josh Morrissey, who missed the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game with an illness, was unable this game.
It was unclear what exactly happened to Morrissey, but with just over a minute left in the first period he appeared to inadvertently clip his left leg on the leg of Czech forward Martin Nečas while exiting the Canada zone. Morrissey returned for the second period but played only one shift before heading back to the Canadian dressing room and not returning.
With Olympic lineups allowing teams to dress seven defensemen, Morrissey was replaced on Canada’s second pair with Colton Parayko by Shea Theodore, who was rotating in on the third pair with Drew Doughty and Thomas Harley in the first period. Canada has Travis Sanheim on the roster, and he would draw into the lineup if Morrissey is unable to play tomorrow against Switzerland.
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Head coach Jon Cooper said before the tournament that he wanted more balance on his lines because he felt one lesson from the 4 Nations Face-Off last year was that the fast and demanding pace meant players could handle fewer minutes. Hence, Connor McDavid, MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby began the Olympics all centering different lines.
For one night, it worked to perfection. After an even first period, Canada locked things down defensively over the final 40 minutes and its pace looked to be more and more difficult for the Czechs to handle as the game wore on.
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The Swiss, who defeated France 4-0 in their first game earlier today, believe they can do something special in this Olympic hockey tournament. Next up, they'll take on Canada tomorrow at 3:10 p.m. ET.
Pierre LeBrun gets you ready for that one at the link below.
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Swiss men’s hockey team eager to face powerhouse Canada and ‘poke the bear’
Arpon Basu and Pierre LeBrun bring you instant analysis of this result, including:
Follow the link below to read their takeaways.
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Canada's fourth goal today came on the power play, scored by Nathan MacKinnon and assisted by Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Just a ridiculous grouping of talent.
Readers in Canada can check out the replay below.
Some happy Canadian fans leaving Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena after Canada’s dominant win over Czechia.
Tomorrow
Sunday
All games are taking place at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.
Here's how Canada's group looks after the first day of games.
(Both ties are broken by goal difference.)
Complete, convincing win by Canada, with the depth and talent of the team showing. But let's not pretend it's going to be this easy for the next 10 days when they inevitably play Sweden or USA in the medal round. Only half of the Czech roster is comprised of NHL players.
Canada 5, Czechia 0
I was obviously very concerned before the tournament, but man is it a relief (and awesome) to see a Jordan Binnington shutout. If he’s on, Canada is set.
I am a Binnington superfan right now. I hope he’s the best goalie in the world and it would be a great story after how he’s looked for the Blues this season.
A nice custom here at the Olympics is the handshake line between teams after each game. You only see that in the NHL at the conclusion of playoff series.
After the handshakes, the Czech players congregate in the middle of the ice and raise their sticks to their fans, who respond with a loud ovation. The Canadian players do the same moments later.
Canada's players are now huddled around their bench, listening to head coach Jon Cooper.
It's all over here at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. A perfect start to the Olympic tournament for Canada. Czechia will look to bounce back tomorrow against France.
Canada's utilization of the whole offensive zone is allowing them to use their speed and deception to create grade A chances ad nauseam.