John Tavares has been called up to join Team Canada’s orientation camp as they prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. At 34 years old, Tavares is among the 42 male players invited to a three-day off-ice event organized by Hockey Canada in Calgary, Alberta. In total, 92 athletes from the male and female parahockey teams were invited.
Between August 26th and 28th, the players will take part in activities at Hockey Canada’s headquarters, including competitions, presentations, team-building exercises, meetings, and media engagements in preparation for the season.
Hockey Canada officials expressed enthusiasm about uniting the male, female, and parahockey teams for this event as a first step toward aiming for triple gold at the Olympics in February. Though the upcoming months will involve tough selections and high stakes, the organization looks forward to starting the season in Calgary and fostering team unity.
London Knights coach Dale Hunter also shared confidence in Easton Cowan’s chances of making the Toronto Maple Leafs roster from training camp.
Tavares enjoyed one of his best seasons with the Maple Leafs, recording 74 points (38 goals and 36 assists) in 75 games. His 38 goals tied the second-highest total of his career, just behind the 47 goals he scored in his debut Toronto season. After becoming an unrestricted free agent on July 1, Tavares signed a four-year contract extension worth $17.55 million, averaging $4.38 million annually.
Tavares, who has represented Canada multiple times including at the World Juniors, World Cup, and 2014 Olympics, has won gold at each level. However, he is still aiming to win the Stanley Cup and join the prestigious Triple Gold Club.
Recently, Nick Robertson and the Maple Leafs are set to meet an arbitrator after submitting comparable salary figures, with Robertson seeking a $2.25 million average annual value, and the team proposing $1.2 million.
Throughout his NHL career, split between Toronto and the New York Islanders, Tavares has amassed 494 goals, 620 assists, and 1,114 points. He has also tallied 53 points (28 goals, 25 assists) in 75 playoff games.
Former Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner, who was invited to the minicamp, was traded this summer to the Vegas Golden Knights as part of a sign-and-trade deal. Marner signed an eight-year, $96 million contract before moving in exchange for Nicholas Roy. The 28-year-old has accumulated 741 points in 647 games for Toronto and remains among the franchise’s top playoff scorers.
Meanwhile, Toronto goalie Anthony Straltz is reportedly in peak offseason training mode ahead of his second season with the Maple Leafs.
This news originally appeared in The Hockey News covering John Tavares joining Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic orientation camp.
Fan Take: This development highlights the ongoing commitment of top hockey talent like John Tavares to representing Canada on the international stage, setting the tone for a strong Olympic showing. For fans, it signals exciting preparations ahead and the potential for thrilling competition that could raise hockey’s profile globally.
