Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini were eight and seven years old, respectively, the last time NHLers participated in the Olympics.

Now, they’re in the mix to represent Canada as international best-on-best hockey travels to Italy in 2026.

“They’ve been told that Oct. 7 to Jan. 1 is massive for them, like it is for everyone else,” Team Canada general manager Doug Armstrong told reporters in Calgary at the Olympic orientation camp. “There is no age limit, or you don’t have to be a certain age to make this team. If you’re good enough and you can help this team compete to win, then you’ll make this team.”

Neither Bedard nor Celebrini played for Canada at the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February, but they are among 43 elite NHLers attending Canada’s orientation camp in Alberta alongsid

See Full Page