Denmark Announces Men's Ice Hockey Roster for Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics

Denmark revealed its men's ice hockey roster for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Wednesday. The team includes prominent NHL players such as Ottawa Senators forward Lars Eller and Carolina Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers.

This marks Denmark's second appearance in men's Olympic ice hockey. Their previous participation was at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where they finished in seventh place.

Player Commentary

Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen commented on the team selection, noting the presence of several national team veterans. He acknowledged the extended effort required for Denmark to qualify for the event and expressed the value of the opportunity.

Nikolaj Ehlers highlighted the significance of playing alongside a Danish teammate, particularly Frederik Andersen, and described the qualification as a culmination of a decade-long effort to reach the Olympics. He anticipates the experience will be notable.

Lars Eller, who has a career including numerous NHL games and World Championship appearances, characterized the Olympic participation as a novel experience. He conveyed anticipation for the competition and the opportunity to represent the national team in a 'best on best' format. Eller also referenced the camaraderie and shared history with many teammates from junior national teams and past World Championships.

Tournament Structure

The Olympic tournament will involve 12 teams, each playing three preliminary games within their assigned groups.

Knockout Stage Progression:

• The three group winners and the highest-ranked second-place team will directly advance to the quarterfinals.
• The remaining eight teams will compete in single-elimination games to determine the other four quarterfinalists.

The gold medal game is scheduled for February 22.