LI's Charlie McAvoy named to 2026 U.S. Olympic men's hockey team
Charlie McAvoy of the Boston Bruins skates against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 5. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Boston Bruins defenseman and Long Beach native Charlie McAvoy was one of the first six players named to the 2026 U.S. Olympic hockey team Monday, but Rangers defenseman Adam Fox, the Jericho native and former Norris Trophy winner as the NHL’s top defenseman, was not.
McAvoy, 27, was joined by fellow defenseman Quinn Hughes and forwards Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk as the first six players named to the roster by USA Hockey. Five of the six were among the first six players named to the U.S. roster last summer for the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off Challenge, the four-team international tournament that replaced the NHL All-Star Game last season. The only change was that Brady Tkachuk was in the group this time, replacing Fox.
Bill Guerin, the general manager of the Minnesota Wild and the GM for Team USA, was asked why Fox wasn’t named among the first six this time.
“I think it was more, just . . . the impact that Brady had on the team [at the 4 Nations tournament] and his role, and kind of how we play, I think that that was a big part of it,’’ Guerin said. “Adam — his tournament was fine. It wasn't as well as he could have played. His season wasn't up to his standards, but you know what, he's very much in the mix [to make the team]. This is just a list that we had to come out with, and I just felt more comfortable with Brady on it this time around.’’
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, who coached the team at 4 Nations, will be the coach for the Olympic team. USA Hockey said assistant coaches and other support staff will be named later. Rangers GM Chris Drury was an assistant GM for the U.S. team for the 4 Nations tournament and could be part of the management team for the Olympics as well.
Fox wasn’t the only Rangers player to be left off his Olympic team’s first six, after having been among the first six for the 4 Nations. Mika Zibanejad wasn’t included in Sweden’s first six players, which were also announced Monday.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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