Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour is focused on earning a place on Canada’s roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, following his solid showings on the international stage. Montour recently received an invitation to Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp, scheduled to take place in Calgary from August 26 to 28, featuring 42 of the nation’s elite hockey players.
Montour spoke about his excitement during the Hockey Night in Muskoka charity game, highlighting the opportunity as a key milestone in his pursuit of Olympic selection.
Strong Performance at IIHF World Championships Boosts Montour’s Profile
Montour’s performance at the IIHF World Championships in May attracted significant attention from Hockey Canada officials. He finished as one of the leading scorers among defensemen, accumulating 9 points with 2 goals and 7 assists over 8 games. This output has helped solidify his reputation as a strong contender for the Olympic team.
“My goal was to play my best and be noticed.” —Brandon Montour
“It was nice to get that,” Montour said regarding the Olympic camp invite. “I think I played well at the Worlds and, I mean, I think at this point people know what I bring.”
“But to be recognized, it’s very cool. And just another kind of step to, you know, hopefully playing well and doing well, and making the team.” —Brandon Montour
Although Montour didn’t make the 4 Nations roster earlier, watching the world’s top players compete fueled his ambition to secure a spot on a future international team.
“Feel like I can put myself in a good position to be in contention this time around.” —Brandon Montour
During the previous NHL season, Montour delivered solid numbers for Seattle, tallying 18 goals and 41 points across 81 games, demonstrating a consistent offensive contribution from the blue line.
Canada’s general manager, Doug Armstrong, has emphasized that final roster decisions will depend heavily on players’ performances leading up to the January deadline for submitting the Olympic roster.
Insights into Canada’s Upcoming Olympic Orientation Camp
Montour explained that the Olympic Orientation Camp will focus on off-ice activities such as introductions, meetings, and building connections with teammates, rather than on-ice training or practices.
“It’ll be fun. Just kind of getting to know guys that I haven’t met, or get to see guys that I used to play with. Or vice versa. So it should be a good couple days for sure.” —Brandon Montour
He also expressed how meaningful it would be to represent Canada at the Olympic Games, describing it as a tremendous honor and a significant goal in his career.