The Olympics are a display of national pride, athletic skill and charisma. So far, the Paris Olympics have dazzled while reminding the world of their love for international competition.
With Olympic zeal at an all-time high and the long-awaited return of NHL players to the Olympic stage, excitement for the 2026 Olympics is building. This applies to both players and fans. Many young players, including Connor McDavid, did not have the opportunity to play for an Olympic team during their professional careers.
It’s easy (and fun) to speculate about who will represent your team on the international stage. However, for the purposes of this article, some standard will be needed. In February, Craig Button presented a player list who he thought would make Canada’s Olympic roster.
There are several former OHL stars on Button’s roster. However, before we take a look at them on the international stage, it is always interesting to remember where they first emerged.
Connor McDavid – Erie Otters
This will be McDavid’s first opportunity to represent Canada at the Olympics. With three gold medals to his name (U18 Junior World Championship, U20 Junior World Championship and World Championship), the former Erie Otter has enjoyed incredible success in international play. Barring injury, McDavid seems like an easy choice to lead Canada in 2026.
During his OHL days, McDavid spent three seasons with the Erie Otters. He scored a total of 285 points in just 166 games. McDavid’s individual accolades could fill the rest of this article. It’s probably enough to say he’s the best player in the world and leave it at that.
Related: History Repeats Itself for Connor McDavid
Carter Verhaeghe – Ice Dogs of Niagara
With his name now etched into the surface of the Stanley Cup, Carter Verhaeghe could be a candidate to join Canada’s 2026 roster. Certainly, his brilliance since joining the Florida Panthers during the 2021-22 season suggests he has elite skills and work ethic.
Verhaeghe spent four seasons in the OHL playing for the Niagara Ice Dogs. In his 262 games played in Niagara, he scored 245 total points. In a pattern that was repeated during his time in the AHL and NHL, Verhaghe’s point production increased sharply after several years in the league.
Travis Konecny - Ottawa 67s/Sarnia Sting
By recently signing Konecny to an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $8.75 million, the Flyers invested in Konecny. According to Button, Team Canada could opt to do the same at the 2026 Olympics. While the Flyers have struggled the past two years, that hasn’t stopped Konecny from putting together back-to-back 60-point seasons.
Konecny had an electric career in the OHL. He was named rookie of the year at the end of the 2013-14 season after scoring 70 points for Ottawa. He would captain the team for two more seasons before transferring to Sarnia in 2015-16. Over 183 OHL games, he scored 239 total points.
Quinton Byfield – Sudbury Wolves
After an excellent campaign in Los Angeles, where Byfield scored 55 points in 80 games, many people are excited about the 21-year-old forward. With two more years to develop his game in the NHL, Byfield is a candidate to play a big role in Canada’s forward group. He has the size, speed and skill to be a devastating part of the 2026 Canadian Olympic team.
Byfield spent two years in the OHL with the Sudbury Wolves before being promoted to play for the Ontario Reign in the AHL. He averaged 1.3 points per game (143 points in 109 OHL games) and was named CHL Rookie of the Year and OHL Rookie of the Year during the 2018-19 season.
Mitch Marner – London Knights
While a segment of Leaf nation is howling for Marner to be traded, he has had an incredibly successful career and projects in the NHL as a player who could be an important part of the Canadian team’s depth. The elite right winger has scored more than a point per game over the past six seasons. He has great hockey sense and is one of the best point guards in the league.
Over three seasons in London, Marner was an offensive force, scoring 301 points in 184 games. During the 2015–16 season, he captained the Knights to an OHL championship as well as a Memorial Cup. He was named CHL Player of the Year as well as Memorial Cup MVP and OHL MVP.
Evan Bouchard – London Knights
Fresh off a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals and with an 82-point season under his belt, Evan Bouchard is an offensive defenseman with room to continue growing. Depending on how the next two seasons play out for Bouchard, it’s entirely possible he could play a larger role on Team Canada in 2026.
Bouchard spent four seasons in the OHL with London. He scored 201 points in 223 games and was team captain during the 2018-19 season. He was part of the 2015-16 team that won the OHL championship. He won the OHL Most Outstanding Defenseman award during his final season in London.
Jordan Binnington – Owen Sound Attack
The former Stanley Cup champion took the NHL by storm during his rookie campaign in 2018-19 when he helped the Blues win the cup. Since then, he has continued to put up respectable numbers at the NHL level. Because of his pedigree and recent play, he will be on the list to defend goal for Team Canada in 2026.
Binnington spent four seasons playing for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL. In 157 games played, he had a 2.90 goals against average and a .910 save percentage. He had a winning record of 86-51-14 throughout his career. He won an OHL championship with Owen Sound in 2010, on his way to being named the Memorial Cup’s Most Outstanding Goaltender. He was named OHL Goaltender of the Year two seasons later in 2013.
Related: Top OHL prospects for 2025 NHL Draft invited to Canada U18 selection camp
