15 players on Team Canada’s Olympic backup roster - find out who

When Team Canada unveiled its 2026 Olympic roster on December 31st, they made it clear that they also have a reserve list, but they didn’t say much about who’s on it or how many players are included. Now, insiders are giving fans a glimpse behind the curtain.

According to Pierre LeBrun, the list isn’t enormous, far from the 60-plus names that could theoretically be pulled from the original IOC longlist of 90+ players. Instead, Team Canada has narrowed it down to roughly 15 names, all of whom have confirmed they’re comfortable remaining in the IOC drug testing protocol.

The reserve list gives Canada some flexibility: injuries, hot streaks, or cold spells can all influence who ultimately sees ice time. Among the forwards reportedly on the list are Sam Bennett, Connor Bedard, Wyatt Johnston, Mark Scheifele, Seth Jarvis, and Travis Konecny. That’s a significant pool of talent that could be tapped depending on how the tournament unfolds.

“None of the Canadian players on that list have opted out to this point. So 15 or so gives them flexibility. Some guys might get hot, some guys might get cold. And depending on the injuries Doug Armstrong said, after naming the team, you know, that will affect which guy is called depending on the injury,” explained LeBrun on Insider Trading.

Team Canada’s approach ensures that even after announcing the main roster, they’re ready to react to changing circumstances.

Fans can expect some of these big names to play a role if the team needs reinforcements. While the main roster grabs the headlines, this secret reserve could end up being Canada’s difference maker in Italy.