Canada’s Sam Bennett Thankful For Olympic Chance - Beritaja

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MILAN – Matthew Tkachuk couldn’t judge what he was hearing.

The Florida Panthers winger had conscionable learned immoderate stunning news — teammate Sam Bennett was near disconnected Canada’s roster for the Milan Cortina Olympics.

“We were each shocked,” Tkachuk said of the New Year’s Eve announcement. “Everybody successful the organization.”

Bennett not only helped Florida triumph its 2nd consecutive Stanley Cup successful June, the gritty centre pinch scoring touch claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy arsenic playoff MVP. On apical of that already awesome caller resume, the 29-year-old played a cardinal a domiciled successful his country’s triumph astatine past February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

The Canadian guidance group, however, went successful a different guidance pinch its 14 forwards for the 2026 Winter Games. Bennett had a slow commencement to the regular play pinch conscionable 5 points done 18 contests for the Panthers, but past put up 10 goals and 14 assists betwixt Nov. 17 and Dec. 30 arsenic the Olympic determination loomed.

It wasn’t enough. When the news came down, Bennett was crushed.

He besides didn’t sulk and kept pushing guardant pinch 13 points (six goals, 7 assists) successful 16 consequent appearances earlier different player’s misfortune — Tampa Bay Lightning centre Anthony Cirelli suffered a lower-body wounded Feb. 3 — sparked his ain Olympic dream anew.

Bennett would beryllium connected the level aft all.

“A crazy plaything of emotions,” said the Holland Landing, Ont., product. “It’s thing I’ve ever dreamt about. When my sanction was near disconnected the first clip it was decidedly difficult, but I’ve conscionable tried to support a affirmative mindset.”

A subordinate pinch a history of getting adjacent to, and sometimes stepping over, the NHL’s disciplinary line, Bennett did the aforesaid astatine 4 Nations arsenic a patient scratch to unfastened the Olympic table-setting arena 12 months agone until getting an opportunity to time off his people connected what turned into a spine-tingling tournament.

“Physical guy, he scores large goals, he’s played successful immoderate immense games,” Canadian skipper Sidney Crosby said. “He could bring thing successful immoderate area.”

The six-foot-one, 193-pound Bennett dropped the gloves pinch the importantly larger Brady Tkachuk — Matthew’s younger relative — successful the 2nd of 3 fights arsenic portion of a chaotic opening to Canada’s crippled against the United States successful round-robin play past year. He past scored the tying extremity successful the last against the Americans to group the shape for Connor McDavid’s melodramatic overtime clincher.

“Sometimes there’s guys that are getting the property clippings,” said Canadian caput coach Jon Cooper, who leads the Lightning and besides watched Tampa Bay centre Brayden Point spell down to injury, pinch Seth Jarvis added his replacement.

“And there’s different guys that travel successful and person unthinkable impacts, affirmative impacts, connected the game. Sam Bennett’s 1 of them. I deliberation we each watched that, not only successful the 4 Nations, but we watched successful the Stanley Cup playoffs. It’s nary astonishment he has the awards he has.”

Matthew Tkachuk, connected some the U.S. squad astatine 4 Nations and the existent 1 successful Milan, knows precisely what Bennett brings.

“Especially travel playoff time, his crippled takes different level,” Tkachuk said. “He skates truthful well, he’s ace beingness for not being the biggest guy, really bully successful the trenches. It’s conscionable speed, power, physicality and (putting) fearfulness into the opposing team.”

Tkachuk besides couldn’t thief but get a sly excavation successful astatine Cirelli arsenic the heated Battle of Florida rivalry — arguably the nastiest successful the convention astatine the infinitesimal — crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

“Definitely an upgrade for their team,” he said of Bennett stepping in. “Seems to proceed to get better, the bigger the stage.”

Disappointed arsenic he was a period ago, Bennett kept his hopes up. Now he will erstwhile again do immoderate is asked of him for the emblem arsenic Canada prepares to look Czechia successful the country’s Olympic opener Thursday nether an aggravated sporting spotlight.

“You ne'er cognize what happens,” Bennett said. “So grateful that I sewage the opportunity.”

CAPTAIN’S BACK

Gabriel Landeskog is patient and fresh to lead Sweden arsenic skipper aft missing 14 games anterior to the Olympics pinch an upper-body injury. The 33-year-old, who besides wears the ‘C’ for the Colorado Avalanche, missed 3 regular-season campaigns pinch knee injuries earlier returning for past spring’s playoffs.

“He’s unbelievable,” Swedish goaltender Jacob Markstrom said. “It’s ever a privilege to stock the locker room and beryllium teammate of Gabe.”

DEFENDING THE CREASE

Cooper has yet to sanction his starting goaltender for Thursday, but reiterated his assurance successful Canada’s crease trio.

Jordan Binnington won the Stanley Cup successful 2019 and was terrific successful the 4 Nations final. Darcy Kuemper hoisted hockey’s beatified grail successful 2022. Logan Thompson has been 1 of the NHL’s champion statistical netminders complete the past 2 seasons.

“They person title pedigree,” Cooper said. “They’ve made the large saves astatine the times they’ve needed to … they’re arsenic bully arsenic anybody.”

This study by BERITAJA was first published Feb. 10, 2026.

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"Canada’s Sam Bennett Thankful For Olympic Chance - Beritaja"

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