MILAN — Connor Hellebuyck has been named the starting goalie for Team USA as they prepare for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. Coach Mike Sullivan announced that Hellebuyck will take the ice against Team Latvia at Santagiulia Arena on Thursday at 3:10 p.m. ET. This match marks the first of three preliminary round games for the teams involved.
Despite not having his best season, Hellebuyck, 32, has a significant track record, including a Vezina Trophy win last year for being the NHL’s top goaltender—his third such accolade—as well as receiving the Hart Trophy for the League’s most valuable player. Currently, he holds a record of 13-16-7, with a goals-against average of 2.79 and a save percentage of .900 through 36 games with the Winnipeg Jets.
Last season, Hellebuyck demonstrated his skill on the international stage, serving as the primary goalie for the United States during the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he achieved a 2-1-0 record alongside a 1.59 GAA and .932 save percentage. His performance led Team USA to the championship game, where they narrowly lost to Canada 3-2 in overtime.
“He’s obviously an elite goalie,” Sullivan noted, expressing confidence in Hellebuyck’s abilities. “We believe we have three elite goalies. These decisions aren’t easy, but we made a decision to start with Connor, and we’ll go from there.”
Following the matchup against Latvia, Team USA has a busy schedule ahead, with back-to-back games against Team Denmark on Saturday and Germany on Sunday to conclude Group C play. As the tournament progresses, there is optimism surrounding Hellebuyck’s leadership and performance, which could be pivotal for Team USA’s success.