MILAN – Sidney Crosby winced. Sam Reinhart put his palms on his head. Josh Morrissey lined his mouth. The remainder of the Canadian males’s hockey group appeared equally shocked.
The nation’s NHL stars are in Italy with a singular focus — to win gold.
Additionally they took a little bit outing to see a few of the motion on the Milan Cortina Olympics earlier than their very own video games start. The whole 25-man roster attended the short-track speedskating blended relay occasion Tuesday, and had front-row seats for an evening they gained’t quickly overlook.
Corinne Stoddard of the US misplaced an edge and took out South Korean’s Kim Gil-li within the semifinals, whereas Canada’s Courtney Sarault narrowly averted getting caught up within the fray.
“It was unbelievable,” ahead Brad Marchand mentioned following Wednesday’s follow. “I haven’t seen speedskating dwell earlier than. Simply a lot enjoyable. To see the depth between the laps, how briskly the athletes are going, one little mistake, the way it can derail a contest not just for your self, however for different (athletes) as properly.
“It was superior to be there and to root on Canada.”
The hockey gamers ended up watching a podium efficiency for his or her compatriots as Sarault, Félix Roussel, Steven Dubois, William Dandjinou, Florence Brunelle and Kim Boutin took silver.
“It was intense,” mentioned goaltender Jordan Binnington. “They’re competing for his or her ice on the market. It’s loopy, the change in place when somebody goes down, and you then nonetheless have an opportunity, and also you’ve bought to maintain going and struggle till the top … it was a variety of enjoyable for us.”
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The group, which begins play in opposition to Czechia on Thursday, took public transit to the Milano Ice Skating Enviornment decked out of their purple gear.
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The spotlight for Morrissey was seeing the medal ceremony.
“It conjures up you,” mentioned the defenceman. “It’s fairly chaotic. I had by no means watched speedskating dwell earlier than. It was simply unbelievable to see the athletes on the largest stage compete and carry out.”
Marchand mentioned there’s a lesson within the second the South Korean and American skaters tumbled to the ice.
“The extent of separation between successful and dropping, at any stage, is so small,” he mentioned. “You’re coping with the perfect of the perfect in each sport, and the margins for error are so small. You see a few of the sports activities that you just’re competing in and fractions of a second will make you win or lose. It’s one push or the best way you chop an angle, no matter it’s. It positively places it in perspective.
“All of it comes all the way down to inches and seconds, and one play could make or break it. It positively ramps up the depth stage, and that’s what make it so particular to be part of. We love that. We’re very ultracompetitive. That’s what we attempt for, that’s the place we get our adrenalin rushes and what we spend day by day of our complete lives prepping for.”
LIVING ARRANGEMENTS
The boys’s hockey group made a little bit of stir when it was revealed they had been leaving the athletes village for an off-site resort.
Canadian basic supervisor Doug Armstrong was requested in regards to the residing state of affairs, and did his greatest to diffuse any destructive blowback. He identified NHL gamers, who’re again on the Olympics for the primary time in 12 years, had resorts offered to them by the league and gamers’ affiliation in each 2010 and 2014.
“I feel this has grown a little bit bigger than it’s,” Armstrong mentioned. “That is no totally different than the tournaments we had earlier than. We simply wished to present our gamers that choice to remain the place they’re most comfy to organize for the video games.”
OPEN DOORS
Canada held a follow that was closed to the media Monday, regardless of intense curiosity again residence for a match that’s been greater than a decade within the making.
Armstrong indicated all of the group’s classes will likely be absolutely open shifting ahead.
“That was a one-time factor,” mentioned the St. Louis Blues government. “We had been simply getting up and working.”
MCDAVID’S DRIVE
Canadian celebrity Connor McDavid has collected loads of private {hardware} and bought agonizingly near the successful the Stanley Cup the final two springs with the Edmonton Oilers.
Climbing to the highest of worldwide hockey in Milan is all that issues now.
“Gold means every part to Connor,” Armstrong mentioned. “He’s laser-focused in what he needs. He’s the perfect participant on the planet, and he doesn’t take that without any consideration. His work ethic is second to none.
“Connor’s in a terrific spot proper now in his life — married and he’s bought all of the accolades you may want. Now it’s simply placing Stanley Cups and gold medals on his mantle.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Feb. 11, 2026.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
