The twelve countries participating in men’s hockey at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano and Cortina, Italy are naming the first six players to their preliminary rosters today.
Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov was named to the Finnish squad, joining forwards Sebastian Aho and Mikko Rantanen, defensemen Miro Heiskanen and Esa Lindell, and goaltender Juuse Saros. Barkov has reached the Stanley Cup Final the past three seasons, winning the championship in 2024, and has 782 points (286 goals, 496 assists) in 804 career games. He has been named an NHL All-Star twice (2018, 2023). Barkov had two points (1G/1A) in three games during the recent 4 Nations Face-Off, one assist in two games at the 2014 Sochi Olympics and was held without a point in three games in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Defenseman Uvis Balinskis was named to the Latvian team along with goaltenders Elvis Merzļikins and Arturs Silovs and former Panther prospect Rodrigo Abols, Teddy Blueger and Zemgus Girgensons.
The Charlotte Checkers bounced back to take Game 2 of the Calder Cup Final, beating the Abbotsford Canucks 3-2 in overtime to knot the series at a game apiece. Mike Benning scored the decisive goal 4:02 into the fourth period, beating Arturs Silovs from the top of the left circle after taking a pass from Justin Sourdif. John Leonard and Wilmer Skoog also scored for the Checkers. Kaapo Kahkonen made 11 saves and Rasmus Asplund set up Leonard’s game-opening goal. Sammy Blais had a goal and an assist for the Canucks. Game 3 will be in Abbotsford on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET.