The clock continues to tick for management group for Canada’s men’s Olympic team as they continue to put the final touches on their final roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
After the 4 Nations Face-Off last season brought back best-on-best men’s hockey for the first time in almost a decade, eligible players are doing everything they can to cement their spots on the team before the deadline on Dec. 31.
“I think guys are really excited about this opportunity,” Team Canada assistant coach Pete DeBoer told TSN1050’s First Up on Friday. “You could see how important [the Olympics] was to the players because it was one of their main bargaining asks in the last collective bargaining agreement.
“What we’ve seen is everyone understanding how tough these decisions are and they’ve really been bringing their best.”
DeBoer is in the unique position as part of Canada’s coaching staff to solely focus on the Olympics as he is not currently working for an NHL team.
The 57-year-old was previously the head coach of the Dallas Stars for three seasons, leading them to the Western Conference Final all three years. He was let go last June after failing to advance to the Stanley Cup Final.
“I’ve been way busier than I thought I would be,” said DeBoer. “Once the NHL season started, [Hockey Canada] have kept me running around. I had coach’s meetings throughout the fall, then [general manager] Doug Armstrong brought me into their group for evaluation.
“So, I’ve been watching a ton of hockey from an evaluation point of view, which is different for a coach because we’re usually watching for systems, trends, and style of play.”
Another thing Hockey Canada asked DeBoer to do was visit Milan for a site visit. The arena construction was still far from complete at that point, but he believes the arena will be ready in time.
“There was a lot of construction being done, and everyone is worried about it getting done,” said DeBoer. “But I have no doubt that it’s gonna get done and it’ll be absolutely fabulous.”
Canada already announced Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point, and Sam Reinhart as the team’s first six players to cement themselves onto the Olympic team.
DeBoer and the rest of the Canada’s staff are still evaluating the remainder of the roster and how different it may look compared to the team the country iced at the 4 Nations.
“I’ve been really impressed by the young guys in the league that have really pushed themselves in to the conversation,” said DeBoer. Guys like Matthew Schaefer, Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Wyatt Johnson, and Nick Suzuki. There has been a real push of young players into the mix, which has been great.
“On the other hand, you’ve had some great performances from some of the old veterans like Brad Marchand, who is having a great run with the Florida Panthers to start the season, and Drew Doughty is playing well with the Los Angeles Kings after going through some injuries.
“It’s been a really interesting dynamic of young guys pushing and old guys trying to make a statement.”
While DeBoer is focused on the Olympics right now, he’s also using his time away from the NHL to reflect on his career.
The Dunnville, Ont., native coached a lot of hockey over the past three seasons and recognizes that having a break allows him to slow down and look at the things he did well and the things he can work on.
He believes that this time of reflection can help him in the future when he attempts to get back behind the bench in the NHL.
“I’ve been in the conference final in six of the last seven years, which is 82 regular-season games and then another 20 playoff games,” said DeBoer. “That can get to you, and you can lose that perspective of how great of a job it is and how much job there is.
“Sometimes you got to step back, and, after that type of run, it’s a good thing. I feel recharged and ready. I’ve been to a couple of Stanley Cup Finals and eight or nine conference finals, so it drives me to come back and get a Cup.”