Milan, Italy – – Auston Matthews, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, has been named captain of the U.S. Men’s hockey team for the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. The announcement, made earlier this week, sees Matthews assuming the leadership role for a team hoping to recapture Olympic gold for the first time since .
Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins and Matthew Tkachuk of the Florida Panthers were named as alternate captains, forming a leadership core that U.S. General Manager Bill Guerin believes will be instrumental in the team’s performance. Guerin highlighted the trio’s previous experience leading the team at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where the U.S. Finished second to Canada, as a key factor in his decision. “Auston, Charlie and Matthew did a great job in leading our team a year ago at Four Nations and it’s great to have them back in those roles for the Olympics,” Guerin stated. “They all bring different leadership traits to the table and I know all three are excited, as is our whole team, about representing our country as part of Team USA.”
The selection of Matthews, a -year-old forward, reflects a changing demographic within American hockey. Born in San Ramon, California, to a Mexican mother and an American father, and raised in Arizona, Matthews’s journey to the NHL and now Olympic captaincy represents the growing diversity and expanding geographic reach of the sport in the United States. He progressed through the U.S. National Team Development Program before being selected first overall in the NHL draft – one of only eight Americans to achieve that distinction, alongside Patrick Kane.
Matthews’s on-ice accomplishments further solidify his position as a leader. He has scored goals in career NHL games, placing him second among active American-born players, trailing only Patrick Kane’s goals in games. He has also been recognized with the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player in , and the Rocket Richard Trophy as the league’s leading goal scorer three times (, , and ).
Team USA arrived in Milan on , with players opting to stay in the Olympic Village to fully immerse themselves in the Games experience. The team held its first practice on afternoon, with coach Mike Sullivan intentionally avoiding the public display of line combinations. However, drills suggested Jack Eichel will center a line with the Tkachuk brothers, while Matthews will center another top line alongside Matt Boldy and Jake Guentzel.
The appointment of Matthews as captain continues a trend of recognizing players with established leadership roles in the NHL at the international level. Both McAvoy and Tkachuk currently serve as alternate captains for their respective NHL teams, the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers. This continuity is seen as a benefit, providing a familiar dynamic within the U.S. Olympic squad.
Team USA will open its Olympic campaign against Latvia on , at the Milano Santaguilia Arena, with puck drop scheduled for . The team faces a challenging schedule in its pursuit of a medal, competing against other hockey powerhouses such as Canada, Sweden, and Finland.
The selection of this leadership group signals a commitment to experience and proven performance as Team USA aims to contend for a medal at the Winter Olympics. The team’s success will likely hinge on the ability of Matthews, McAvoy, and Tkachuk to galvanize the squad and translate their NHL success onto the Olympic stage.
