ECHL Has 34 Former Players, Five Officials in 2026 Winter Olympics

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The ECHL will be represented by 34 former players in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games which begin this week in Milan and Cortina, Italy.

Eleven of the 12 teams in the tournament feature at least one former ECHL player, with Italy and Latvia leading the way with seven former players while France has five former ECHL players.

In addition to the 34 former ECHL players in the Olympics, ECHL linesman Jake Davis has been selected to work during the tournament. Former ECHL officials Nick Briganti, Sean MacFarlane, Kirsten Welsh and Tarrington Wyonzek have also been selected to work games during the Olympics.

John Wroblewski, who played for Fresno from 2003-06; was assistant coach for Wheeling in 2010-11 and head coach for Gwinnett from 2011-13, is the head coach for the United States women's team in the Olympics.

Former ECHL players in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Canada – Jordan Binnington (Kalamazoo, 2013-14), Darcy Kuemper (Ontario, 2011-12 and Orlando, 2012-13) and Logan Thompson (Adirondack, 2018-19 and South Carolina, 2019-20)

Czech Republic - David Spacek (Iowa, 2023-24) and Dan Vladar (Atlanta, 2016-18 and 2019-20)

Denmark - Mikkal Aagaard (Adirondack, 2016-17 and Manchester, 2017-18)

Finland - Kevin Lankinen (Indy, 2018-19)

France - Justin Addamo (Wheeling, 2022-24), Jules Boscq (Iowa, 2023-25), Louis Boudon (Iowa, 2022-24 and Atlanta, 2025-26), Julian Junca (Tulsa, 2023-24) and Antoine Keller (South Carolina, 2025-26)

Germany - Philipp Grubauer (South Carolina, 2011-12 and Reading, 2012-13), Lukas Kaelble (Florida, 2021-23), Mathias Niederberger (Ontario, 2013-14) and Frederik Tiffels (Wheeling, 2017-18)

Italy - Matt Bradley (Newfoundland, 2018-20 and Greenville, 2020-22), Cristiano DiGiacinto (Jacksonville, 2017-18 and 2022-23; Cincinnati, 2023-24), Gregory DiTomaso (South Carolina, 2021-22), Dustin Gazley (Greenville, 2010-11; Elmira, 2011-13 and Reading, 2013-14), Thomas Larkin (Evansville, 2013-14), Phil Pietroniro (Utah, 2015-17) and Nick Saracino (Worcester, 2017-18; Wheeling, 2018-20 and Jacksonville, 2020-21)

Latvia - Rihards Bukarts (Manchester, 2016-17), Martins Dzierkals (Orlando, 2017-18); Ralfs Freibergs (Ontario, 2014-15 and Toledo, 2015-16), Kristers Gudlevskis (Florida, 2013-14), Renars Krastenbergs (Wheeling, 2018-20), Arturs Silovs (Trois-Rivières, 2021-22) and Eduards Tralmaks (Maine, 2021-23)

Slovakia - Martin Gernat (Bakersfield, 2013-14) and Samuel Hlavaj (Iowa, 2024-26)

Sweden - Filip Gustavsson (Brampton, 2018-19)

Switzerland - Christian Marti (Reading, 2015-16)

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