EDMONTON – Connor McDavid says the Olympic expertise lastly feels actual after the Edmonton Oilers centre was named Wednesday to Canada’s roster for the 2026 Milan Cortina Video games.
“As a participant, I’m simply excited in regards to the truth it’s changing into extra actual, coming collectively, the staff’s introduced, the Olympics are getting nearer, will get increasingly more actual by the day,” mentioned McDavid, who missed out on the 2022 Olympics after the NHL elected not to participate.
Considered one of six gamers added to the roster over the summer season, McDavid mentioned the choice nonetheless carried weight.
“Everybody needs to earn their spot, so it’s an unbelievable honour to be named to that staff,” McDavid mentioned Wednesday following the Edmonton Oilers’ morning skate forward of their sport in opposition to Boston. “It’s an unbelievable honour to characterize your nation on the Olympics, the largest sporting occasion on the planet. Extremely honoured.”
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The NHL’s main scorer mentioned he was upset for Edmonton teammates Zach Hyman and Evan Bouchard, who didn’t make the reduce.
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“I understand how badly he needed to be on that staff,” McDavid mentioned of Hyman, his linemate who missed the primary two months of the season with a wrist harm. “He did every little thing he may probably do to get again, possibly a contact too early simply to offer himself a bit extra of a runway. And he’s performed nice. It’s disappointing.”
With the choice course of full, McDavid mentioned the main focus now shifts to the chance forward.
“I’m enthusiastic about it, guys in listed here are enthusiastic about it, Leon (Draisaitl, who will play for Germany). It’s an incredible alternative for us, one thing we haven’t achieved ever,” he mentioned.
One adjustment McDavid hadn’t confronted earlier than final winter’s 4 Nations event was making ready his sport to peak in February relatively than April for the NHL playoffs. Meaning discovering methods to raise a sport that has already been at a blistering tempo in latest weeks for the center of the season.
“You must discover a approach to peak in February, type of distinctive that manner,” he mentioned. “I by no means had that have earlier than; final 12 months was a brand new expertise. You go from taking part in a regular-season, middle-of-the-season type of sleepy sport to a few days later, you’re in what looks like a playoff Recreation 7.
“It’s going to be the identical this 12 months. Crucial for guys to be ramping up their video games and clearly, personally, I really feel like I’m attempting to try this, too. Be certain that my sport’s in a great spot coming down the stretch to the Olympics.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Dec. 31, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
