Two Florida Panthers are set to ignite the ice for Tea Latvia at the 2026 Winter Olympics, showcasing their skills and leadership on hockey's biggest international stage.

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.

The on-ice leaders for one of the intriguing underdogs heading into the men’s ice hockey tournament in Milan have been named. On Tuesday, it was announced that former NHL forward Kaspars Daugavins has been named the captain of the Latvian men’s team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Seven members of the Canucks organization will represent their respective countries at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

MILAN -- The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 men’s hockey tournament begins Wednesday when the 12 nations compete in three groups. Group A consists of Canada, Czechia, France and Switzerland. Finland, Italy, Sweden and Slovakia will play in Group B. Group C features Denmark, Germany, Latvia and the United States.

MILAN — There were some bruised feelings a year ago, when the four nations selected unilaterally by the NHL in a Russia-less return to international best-on-best hockey did not include the likes of Czechia, which had won IIHF World Championship the previous summer.

Here's where to catch every live event and re-airing as it happens.

Auston Matthews shares his view on Olympic neck guard rule after Adam Johnson incident.