“ Tried to maintain hope ”: the NHL stars are ready for the Olympic return in 2026 after a long wait

Sidney Crosby has always kept hope.

The double Olympic gold medalist also tried to keep a level head.

His name has already engraved in the sports tradition of Canada after having marked the winner in prolongation of the spine during the male hockey final on home at home at the 2010 Vancouver Games, Crosby followed this by conducting a dominant performance in terms of two years later.

Another chance of international glory, however, was far from being certain for n ° 87.

The NHL first jumped the 2018 matches in South Korea for financial reasons following a series of five consecutive tournaments between 1998 and 2014. The league was then forced to get rid of its participation in 2022 in China due to the concerns of Cavid-19.

The time of an athlete is over. Although it is always an impressive force of two decades in what is surely a career in the temple of fame, Crosby was not sure if his opportunity to compete on the largest scene in the sports world had already gone and disappeared.

“This is only one of those things that you cannot really control,” said Captain and Center by Pittsburgh Penguins during the recent media tour of the NHL / NHLPA pre-season players in Las Vegas. “But I like to think that I am an optimistic person … I tried to maintain the hope that it would work. This is one of those things, how are you going to control this?

“You really can’t.”

Crosby, triple Stanley Cup champion, and the rest of the NHL’s largest stars have remained patient.

Now, they are about to return under the brightest lights this winter when the league returns from its games – thanks to the agreements between the NHL, the NHL Players’ Association, the International Olympic Committee and the International Ice Hockey Federation – during the Milan -Cortina showcase in February 2026 in Italy, ending an absence of 12 years.

“Very excited,” said the Swedish maestro of Toronto and the Swedish maestro William Nylander. “This is something you are a child you have always dreamed of.”

The world of hockey has been reintroduced to the best male hockey – or as close as possible with prohibited Russia for international competition because of its continuous war in Ukraine – during the NHL NHL 4 confrontation last season.

Canada won an OT dramatic victory when Connor McDavid drew niche in the final against the United States in an event that also included Sweden and Finland.

Look | McDavid L’Ot Hero as Canada has designed us in the final of 4 countries: Final:

McDavid obtains the Winner of the OT as Canada bordered us on the 4 nations championship match

Canada beats the United States 3-2 in overtime while Connor McDavid obtains the winner in the final of the 4 countries.

This aperitif was enticing. The main dish is just over four months old.

“The level of competence will be amplified,” said Cale Makar, the Canadian defender of Colorado and the Canadian defender. “It is the fastest hockey that anyone has ever played.”

The Olympic field at 12 teams will be completed by the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Germany, Latvia, Denmark, France and welcomes Italy, with six players from each country having already been appointed to preliminary lists.

The center of Vegas Golden Knights Jack Eichel – like McDavid, Makar, Nylander, Nathan Mackinnon in Canada, Auston Matthews of the United States and a crowd of others among a generation of elite talents still to taste the Games – said that hockey is the n ° 1 goal, the whole show will be memorable.

“This is something we’ve been wanting for some time,” said the American striker. “Just to be at the Olympic Games, I think it’s so cool to be part. I know it’s something I dreamed of … like, what an honor, what an incredible experience. I could not be more excited than we have the opportunity.”

Florida panthers and Canadian winger Sam Reinhart said that despite this overwhelming anticipation, taking a good start for the NHL calendar is at the center of the moment.

“This will only help you,” he said. “And believe that when this moment comes, that you are going to be at your best, and you will put the work, and that you are going to have this juice.”

Makar said that even if the games could feel close to those outside, the event is still many difficult nights in the NHL both for itself and its contemporaries.

“Everyone continues to talk about proximity,” he said. “If you are an Olympic athlete, you have been training for four years, so it seems very close now. But I think that for us, because we have this other work that we have to do and focus first … We always have the impression that it is far.”

Boston’s Bruins defender Charlie McAvoy, from the United States, was preparing to head to Beijing for the 2022 games when the cap was fired. Exaltation on its side is difficult to contain.

“It will happen … You know you are going to the tournament,” he said. “In many ways, I have already started the process of simple being delighted and excited for that. What a dream come true.”

Crosby lived this time twice before. Now, another is right at the corner of the street.

“(I was) hoping that it would work,” said Crosby. “And that’s definitely.”

Look at the McDavid, Crosby ready for the biggest international scene:

With the return of NHL to the Olympic Games, McDavid and Crosby are ready for the biggest international scene

CBC Sports was in Calgary and spoke to the best NHL Canadian players on what it means to return to the Olympic Games after 12 years.