Team USA will open its highly-anticipated Olympic men’s hockey tournament Thursday against Latvia. Coming off of last year’s thrilling 4 Nations Face Off tournament and entering the Olympics as the defending world champion for the first time since 1933.

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The American squad will, of course, look more like the 4 Nations roster than the won at Worlds, but there are participants from both events that will play a role in the Olympics. When USA takes the ice against Latvia, it will be our first real glimpse of this American roster and how head coach Mike Sullivan will deploy it.

At the Olympics, teams can dress 20 skaters as opposed to the 18 typically dressed for NHL games. Team USA has a roster of 25 players, which means three will not dress. It is likely that the U.S. will go with 13 forwards, seven defensemen and the two goalies. 

The expected starter – though unconfirmed by Mike Sullivan – is Vezina and Hart Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck. Though he has struggled this season in front of a Winnipeg Jets team that has underwhelmed, Hellebuyck is among the best goalies in the game today.

Here’s how the rest of Team USA is expected to look based on practice reports from The Athletic’s Michael Russo.

Team USA Projected Lineup Vs. Latvia

Forwards

Brady Tkachuk – Jack Eichel – Matthew Tkachuk
Jake Guentzel – Auston Matthews – Matt Boldy
Kyle Connor – Dylan Larkin – Tage Thompson
Jack Hughes – Brock Nelson – J.T. Miller
Vincent Trocheck

Defense

Quinn Hughes – Charlie McAvoy
Jaccob Slavin – Brock Faber
Jake Sanderson – Zach Werenski
Noah Hanifin

Goalies

Connor Hellebuyck

TBD (Jeremy Swayman OR Jake Oettinger)

Scratches: Clayton Keller, Jackson Lacombe, TBD

Team USA Lineup Analysis

Team USA’s strength is from the net out. They have depth at all positions, but have arguably the best goaltending trio of any nation in the Olympics. Additionally, the blue line is loaded. From top to bottom, USA’s defense can skate, they can move pucks and they have the ability to take care of their own end. 

Up front, the U.S. is balanced with scoring and some grit, too. They’ve got size up front, with scorers on every line.

It will be interesting to watch how Jack Hughes is deployed as he’s obviously not a natural fourth liner. We’ll see if he ends up more like the 13th forward than one of Brock Nelson and Vince Trocheck, who reportedly were rotating in. Clayton Keller is another option off the bench if someone in the top nine falters as a high-end facilitator. 

According to Russo, Team USA’s power play units will look like this…

PP1: Matthews, Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk and Thompson

PP2: Brady Tkachuk, Boldy, Connor, Werenski, Guentzel

This looks to be the best U.S. roster on paper since the 1998 team in Nagano, which was a major disappointment in hindsight. That team lasted just four games. This year’s group will be far different.

The U.S. opens the tournament against Latvia, then has Denmark Saturday and Germany on Sunday. USA is considered to have the weakest bracket among the power nations, but nothing can be taken for granted at the Olympics. Getting the bye to the quarterfinal is mission No. 1 for Team USA on their quest for gold and it starts Thursday.

How To Watch 2026 Winter Olympic Hockey In US And Canada

Viewers in the United States can watch the 2026 Olympic Winter Games streaming live via Peacock and the NBCOlympics website. It is also available through your TV provider via NBC, USA Network, CNBC, and NBCSN.

Viewers in Canada can watch Milan Cortina 2026 via CBC through your TV provider or stream for free on the app or at CBCGem.ca.

Watch professional and junior hockey live streaming throughout February on FloHockey including the American Hockey League (AHL), ECHL, and many of North America's top junior leagues: OHL, QMJHL, and USHL.

Olympic Hockey Schedule 2026: Here's When Canada, Team USA Play

All times Eastern.

Thursday, Feb. 12

Women's Group A

• Finland vs Canada | 2:30 p.m. 

Men's Group A

• Switzerland vs. France | 6:10 a.m.
• Czechia vs. Canada | 10:40 a.m.

Men's Group C

• Latvia vs. USA | 3:10 p.m.
• Germany vs. Denmark | 3:10 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 13

Men's Group B

• Finland vs. Sweden | 6:10 a.m.
• Italy vs. Slovakia | 6:10 a.m.

Men's Group A

• France vs. Czechia | 10:40 a.m.
• Canada vs. Switzerland | 3:10 p.m.

Women's Quarterfinal Matchups

• Canada vs. TBD | 10:40 a.m.
• USA vs. Italy | 3:10 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 14

Men's Group B

• Sweden vs. Slovakia | 6:10 a.m.
• Finland vs. Italy | 10:40 a.m.

Men's Group C

• Germany vs. Latvia | 6:10 a.m.
• USA vs. Denmark | 3:10 p.m.

Women's Quarterfinal Matchups

• TBD | 10:40 a.m.
• TBD | 3:10 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 15

Men's Group A

• Switzerland vs. Czechia | 6:10 a.m.
• Canada vs. France | 10:40 a.m.

Men's Group C

• USA vs. Germany | 3:10 p.m.
• Denmark vs. Latvia | 3:10 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 16

• Women's Semifinal Matchups
  • TBD | 10:40 a.m.
  • TBD | 3:10 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 17

• Men's Qualification playoff matchups
  • TBD | 6:10 a.m.
  • TBD | 6:10 a.m.
  • TBD | 10:40 a.m.
  • TBD | 3:10 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 18

• Men's Quarterfinal matchups
  • TBD | 6:10 a.m.
  • TBD | 10:40 a.m.
  • TBD | 12:10 p.m.
  • TBD | 3:10 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 19

• Women's Bronze medal game | 8:40 a.m.
• Women's Gold medal game | 1:10 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 20

• Men's Semifinal matchups
  • TBD | 10:40 a.m.
  • TBD | 3:10 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21

• Men's Bronze medal game | 2:40 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 22

• Men's Gold medal game | 8:10 a.m.

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