With so many Americans on the club, including U.S. captain Auston Matthews pulling double duty, it’ll be a raucous viewing party.<\/p>\n
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Published Feb 21, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 14\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n Once again, the 49th Parallel will run down the middle of the Maple Leafs dressing room before, during and after a big international game.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Canadians\u00a0and Americans, seven of\u00a0the latter\u00a0as of Saturday, will line up behind their respective countries<\/a>\u00a0as they watch\u00a0Sunday\u2019s\u00a0Olympic final.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Toronto captain Auston Matthews<\/a> is wearing red,\u00a0white\u00a0and\u00a0blue\u00a0in Milan\u00a0to spice up the rivalry,\u00a0as\u00a0he did\u00a0in the 4 Nations Face-Off\u00a0loss to Canada\u00a0a year ago.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a big deal for him over there,\u201d said coach Craig Berube, who is\u00a0moving\u00a0Sunday\u2019s practice back a bit so the team\u00a0can watch the\u00a0early morning\u00a0game together\u00a0at the\u00a0Ford Centre, while a\u00a0fan\u00a0watch party\u00a0is at\u00a0Scotiabank Arena.\u00a0\u201cHaving our captain being their captain and leading them this far is exciting.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m cheering for our players (Swedes William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson lost to the U.S. in the quarterfinals<\/a>), but I\u2019m Canadian, too. I\u2019m torn a bit. The games have been tight. It\u2019s been good hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Wisconsin-born defenceman Jake McCabe, a father of three, was delighted the province of Ontario urged public schools to show Friday\u2019s Canada-Finland semifinal.<\/p>\n \u201cMy kid comes home with a Canada flag tattooed on his cheek,\u201d McCabe said\u00a0at Saturday\u2019s practice. \u201cI laughed\u00a0about\u00a0that.\u00a0We\u2019ll\u00a0be wiping that one off and putting an American one on.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m wearing my Matthews\u2019 shirt (on Sunday). There\u2019s no bigger stage than the Olympics. He\u2019s been in USA Hockey a long time and I know a lot of buddies on that team. It\u2019s been fun to be in this community, between the women\u2019s and the men\u2019s finals. We were the only ones in our neighbourhood cheering (Thursday) when the U.S. won.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0pumped\u00a0for Sunday.\u00a0This has been meaningful to grow the game and\u00a0i\u00a0hope\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0getting a lot of attention at home as it is here.\u00a0Once it got to the medal round,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0been great, what all hockey fans wanted in best-on-best competition.\u00a0Canada has been the benchmark for years and years so\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0nice to see\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0on par and hopefully bring home gold\u00a0in a big game.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n How divided is the locker room?<\/p>\n There are 12 Canadians on the Leaf roster.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty evenly divided in here,\u201d Arizona winger Matthew Knies said. \u201cBut we have (Oakville\u2019s) Scott Laughton, so I expect a lot of (Canadian) chirping,\u201d<\/p>\n Two other Leafs captains have thrived on the international stage: Mats Sundin at the 2006 Olympics and Darryl Sittler at the, 1976 Canada Cup.<\/p>\n While the Turin Games were a setback for Canada, which lost to Switzerland in group play and Russia in the quarterfinal, Sundin\u2019s Swedes \u2014 he among the 1990s stars wanting to exit internationally on a high \u2014 beat the Swiss, Czechs and finally the Finns.<\/p>\n As the Tre Kronor captain, Sundin had eight points in eight tournament games, but there was some public grousing on the home front. Though he scored 37 points in 25 games to end the NHL schedule, Toronto missed the playoffs that season.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In 1976, it already had been an eventful calendar year for Sittler, with an NHL-record 10-point game in February and a five-goal playoff display versus Philadelphia in the spring playoffs.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Sidney Crosby’s influence extends far beyond his Olympic Golden Goal glory<\/p>\n![\"Auston](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0210-auston-matthews-team-usa.jpg\")
Auston Matthews of Team United States is seen prior to practice during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Getty ImagesArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.6.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
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