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Nathan Mackinnon informs his feelings about playing for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games

The superstar of the Colorado avalanche, Nathan Mackinnon, spoke of the experience of playing for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games.

A clip published on August 31 on X showed the former winner of the Hart Trophy speaking at the Olympic Team Canada orientation camp last week. In the clip, Mackinnon said his feelings about what it is to play for his country of origin.

He said:

“Yeah, this is something that I have never experienced before the four nations, just the whole country rooted for you. But there is also a lot of pressure. I mean, for us, it is cold or robust, which is a great feeling.”

The comments underline the singular experience that this generation of Nhlers will go to the Milano-Cortina Olympic Games. It has been more than a decade that professional players participated in the Olympic Games. The last time the League agreed to send back players was back in the 2014 matches in Sochi, Russia.

Now Nathan Mackinnon and his teammates will experience a unique experience while the whole nation of Canada is told for his heroes of the hometown. This situation has encouraged Mackinnon to conclude:

“I mean, it is the kind of expectations as anhletes, it is to be the best, and to win. It is therefore exciting and excited to feel this pressure. ”

Nathan Mackinnon informs his feelings about playing for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Games

There will certainly be pressure on Team Canada to resume its gold medal performances from 2014. In the two Olympiads since then, Russia Capture de l’Or in 2018 with Finland in 2022.

Now that Nhlers will be back in the mixture, Nathan Mackinnon and Team Canada will have more pressure than ever to bring gold home.

Nathan Mackinnon “Jittery” during the first practice in 4 nations confronted

McKinnon won the MVP of the tournament during the confrontation of the 4 nations - Source: Imagn
McKinnon won the MVP of the tournament during the confrontation of the 4 nations – Source: Imagn

For Nathan Mackinnon, as almost everyone in Team Canada’s programming during the confrontation of the 4 nations, playing for his country of origin was a new experience. It was the first time that Mackinnon has been playing for Jon Cooper instead of facing him.

But as NHL.com described it in a play on August 28, Nathan Mackinnon was a bit “nervous” during his first meeting with Cooper on the ice.

The play described how Mackinnon was confused with Cooper’s system. He did not know the exercises, the exercises and the playing them. The terminology was different, just like chatter.

This situation led Mackinnon to be afraid of spoiling and disappointing his new coach. But as everyone saw the ice, it did not happen. Mackinnon had a big tournament of 4 nations. He won the MVP award for the tournament while opening the way in the score.

This time, Nathan Mackinnon will be much more familiar with Jon Cooper and his teammates. Unless there is a sudden change in the team’s makeup, Mackinnon will have the chance to lead the Canada team to another Olympic gold medal.