SportsHockeyOlympicsCanada

Team Canada GM explains goalie plan for 2026 Olympics

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
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Aug 28 2025, 9:06 pm
Team Canada GM explains goalie plan for 2026 Olympics
Edmonton Oilers/YouTube

Canada’s goaltending at the 2026 Olympics could wind up looking different than what we saw at February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Canada surprised many when they announced that the three goalies they were rostering for the 4 Nations were Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault. Many discussed names, such as Logan Thompson and Darcy Kuemper, as snubs. That chatter has only gotten louder in recent weeks.

Canada’s selection committee raised some eyebrows once again when they listed just three goalies (Binnington, Hill, and Montembeault) for their current 42-man orientation camp. Some believed that indicated that those making the decisions on the Olympic roster already had their minds made up, but Armstrong was on record a short time later saying that wasn’t the case.

He reiterated that sentiment when speaking with reporters in Calgary on Thursday.

“That’s probably the most open competition on our group right now,” Armstrong admitted. “We’re here with three goaltenders because when we talked about the actual number that are going to be participating, we didn’t really want to have that many goalies in one spot. We decided to go with the three, but I’ve reached out to the other goalies that we believe have a legitimate chance and told them the thought process behind bringing the three. They all understood that.

“We’re going to take the guys that give us the best chance to win when we pick the team on Jan. 1. They’re championship goalies, they’re Stanley Cup-winning goalies. They’re going to have that opportunity from Oct. 7 to Jan. 1 to prove who should be on the team.”

Armstrong did admit that he has a soft spot for Jordan Binnington, having won a Stanley Cup with him in 2019 as members of the St. Louis Blues, where Binnington’s brilliance was showcased in the 4 Nations Face-Off Final against the U.S.

It seems safe to assume Binnington is a lock for Milano Cortina 2026, but whether the likes of Thompson, Kuemper, or perhaps even Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner can force their way onto the roster remains to be seen. Based on Armstrong’s comments, it certainly doesn’t seem impossible.

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