The most prominent Latvia-born players to reach the NHL are defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh, who helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and played 875 games in 15 NHL seasons, and goalie Arturs Irbe, who had 218 wins and 33 shutouts in 13 seasons.

Which countries are performing the best at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Before Olympic hockey begins, a few NHL stars took a moment to share their dream alternate sports.

Read The Latest 2026 Winter Olympics News On FloHockey 2026 Winter Olympics Hockey Rosters: Full List Including Team Canada Twelve different AHL teams will have at least one player going to Italy. Leading the way are the Iowa Wild,

The 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament officially begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the preliminary rounds, and it's shaping up to be an intense run of games between 12 teams. What makes the 2026 Olympics stand of is that it brings the return of NHL players,

For the first time since 2014, the NHL has returned to the Winter Olympic Games! While it was a long road to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, it feels right to finally see the best hockey players in the world donning the crest of their homeland and competing for gold.

The 2026 Winter Olympics is in full flow in Milano Cortina and The Athletic is here to take you every step of the way. We’ve got you covered through all the week’s events at the games from ice hockey to curling, as well as the weekend’s NBA All-Star game, with plenty more to enjoy in between.