Team Canada revealed the 42 NHL players invited to the Olympic orientation camp in Milan Cortina on Friday, including three players from the Montreal Canadiens. Among the Canadiens, Nick Suzuki and Noah Dobson were not selected for the two national teams, though Dobson represented Canada at the World Championships in May. The third Montreal player invited was goaltender Samuel Montembeault, who is Canada’s third-string goalie at the camp.
Notably, only three goaltenders made the 42-player roster, sparking debate given Canada’s traditionally strong pool of netminders. The final goalie selections were Jordan Binnington from the St. Louis Blues, Aidan Hill from the Vegas Golden Knights, and Montembeault.
Canada’s standing as a top producer of NHL goaltenders has diminished, but with 25 Canadian goalies in the league last season, many expected a larger contingency to allow for injury replacements. Logan Thompson of the Washington Capitals was a potential candidate but was reportedly excluded due to the poor experiences coaches Bruce Cassidy and Peter DeBoer had with him in Vegas; both coaches will be part of the Olympic coaching staff.
Other possible contenders included 35-year-old Darcy Kemper of the Los Angeles Kings, who played 50 games last season with impressive stats, and 24-year-old Jet Greaves, who led the Columbus Blue Jackets into the playoffs with strong performance despite limited games and some inconsistencies in the AHL playoffs.
Despite only three goalies being invited, this is a positive development for Montembeault, who will gain invaluable experience simply by attending the Olympics, even if he doesn’t see much game time. The Becancour native has already benefited from top-tier practice alongside stars like Conor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. Being chosen for the Olympics—even beyond NHL events—is a significant career milestone and an unforgettable experience.
If Montembeault suits up in Milan Cortina this February, it will be a dream come true for him.
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Fan Take: This roster announcement highlights the ongoing evolution in Canadian hockey, especially in the goaltending position where new talent is emerging both in and outside traditional expectations. For fans, it offers a glimpse of the future stars who will carry the sport forward on the international stage, making the upcoming Olympics an exciting event to watch.
