Matthew Schaefer in Canada’s sights for the 2026 Olympics
The young defenseman for the New York Islanders, Matthew Schaefer, has emerged as a promising figure for the Canadian ice hockey team, opening the doors to his possible participation in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
The Islanders confirmed that 18-year-old Schaefer is on Team Canada’s preliminary list for next February’s games. The player has already been included in the International Olympic Committee (IOC) doping testing protocol, a crucial step for his Olympic eligibility.
Schaefer, selected as number one in last June’s NHL draft, was not included among the 13 defensemen invited to the national team’s orientation camp last summer. However, his outstanding start to his rookie season in the NHL has caught the attention of Team Canada.
With 15 points in 20 games, Schaefer leads rookies in points this season. In addition, he averages 22:30 minutes of ice time per game, the highest among rookies.
It is expected that most of the seven Team Canada defensemen who participated in the 4 Nations Face-Off championship last February will be part of the winter Olympic team, provided there are no injuries. The depth of the roster is eight defensemen, which could open an opportunity for players like Schaefer.
The Hamilton, Ontario native has already represented Canada internationally at the U-18 and U-20 World Junior Championships.
Schaefer joins a select group of young NHL stars seeking a spot on Team Canada this season. The list includes Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard and San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini.
The deadline for submitting the 25-player rosters for each Olympic team is December 31st.
