Thursday, October 1, 2026
Long Beach native Charlie McAvoy has earned one of the biggest honors of his hockey career — and made history in the process. The star defenseman for the Boston Bruins was among the first six players named to the U.S. Men’s Ice Hockey Team for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, USA Hockey announced on July 7.
McAvoy, 27, joins fellow NHL stars Quinn Hughes, Matthew Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, and Jack Eichel on the preliminary Olympic roster.
The full 25-man squad is expected to be unveiled in early January of next year but these six selections underscore the caliber of talent the U.S. will bring to its first Olympic tournament with NHL players since 2014.
A couple of familiar faces will also be taking part in the Olympic hockey competition as McAvoy Bruin teammates David Pastrnak and Pavel Zacha were named to the Czechia roster.
The announcement also signals a major moment for the NHL and international hockey, following a 12-year absence of NHL participation in the Olympics.
A landmark agreement between the NHL, NHL Players’ Association, IIHF, and IOC paved the way for the world’s best players to return to Olympic ice in 2026.
For McAvoy, the honor is the latest milestone in a career that began in Long Beach as a standout youth player for the Long Island Gulls before making a name for himself at Boston University and with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He was a key contributor to the U.S. team that won gold at the 2017 World Junior Championship.
Drafted 14th overall by the Bruins in 2016, McAvoy has grown into one of the league’s elite defensemen. He’s known for his blend of physicality, hockey IQ, and offensive skill, which has made him the cornerstone of Boston’s blue line. In the 2023-24 NHL season, McAvoy tallied 39 points (10 goals, 29 assists) and continued to lead in average ice time for the Bruins.
Internationally, McAvoy has long been a steady presence for Team USA. In addition to his gold at the World Juniors, he’s represented the U.S. at multiple IIHF Men’s World Championships and was named the tournament’s best defenseman in 2018.
His Olympic selection adds another chapter to Long Beach’s proud sports history — and puts a local hero on the global stage.
McAvoy and his fellow early selections will likely serve as the leadership core for an American squad looking to win its first men’s hockey gold medal since the “Miracle on Ice” team triumphed in Lake Placid in 1980.
The Milano Cortina Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament is scheduled to begin in February 2026. With McAvoy anchoring the blue line, Team USA will arrive with gold-medal aspirations and a deep, talented roster ready to chase history.
