Matthew Schaefer in Canada’s sights for the 2026 Olympics
The young defenseman for the New York Islanders, Matthew Schaefer, has emerged as a strong contender to be part of the Canadian team at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be held in Milan-Cortina next February.
The Islanders confirmed that 18-year-old Schaefer has been included in Team Canada’s preliminary list. The player has already begun the International Olympic Committee (IOC) drug testing protocol, a requirement for Olympic eligibility.
Schaefer, selected as the first pick in the NHL draft in June, was not initially invited to the national team’s orientation camp this summer. However, his outstanding start in his first NHL season has caught the attention of Team Canada.
With 15 points in 20 games through Thursday night, Schaefer leads all rookies in points this season. In addition, he averages 22:30 minutes of ice time per game, the highest figure among rookies.
It is expected that most of the seven Team Canada defenders who won the 4 Nations Face-Off championship last February will be part of the Olympic team, as long as they do not suffer injuries. The roster has eight defenders, which could open a door for a player like Schaefer.
The Hamilton, Ontario native has already represented Canada internationally at the U18 and U20 world championships.
Schaefer joins a select group of young NHL stars vying for a spot on the Canadian team this season.
The deadline for submitting the 25-player rosters for each Olympic team is December 31st.
