Armstrong: Canada's goaltending remains 'open competition'

Inviting just three netminders to next week's Olympic orientation camp in Calgary doesn't mean that Canada's goalies are set in stone for the 2026 Winter Games.

Far from it, according to general manager Doug Armstrong, the architect of the Canadian men's Olympic hockey team. He said Wednesday that he's "talked to probably six goalies" who weren't invited to the camp and informed them that the decision-making process is far from over.

"It just didn't feel right bringing that large number of goalies to the camp, so we just went with the three, but I've talked to the other goalies and told them that it's an open competition to play well and make our decisions hard in January," he told TSN 1050. "It's open competition for that goaltending position."

Jordan Binnington, Adin Hill, and Sam Montembeault were the only netminders invited to the off-ice camp. All three represented Canada at February's 4 Nations Face-Off.

Binnington is likely the closest thing Canada has to a lock between the pipes. He started all four games for Canada en route to victory at the 4 Nations, shining in the final against the United States. The 32-year-old also won a Stanley Cup with Armstrong's St. Louis Blues in 2019.

Mackenzie Blackwood, Darcy Kuemper, and Logan Thompson are among the other goaltenders who could push for a spot on the team.

Full 25-man rosters for the Olympics are expected to be announced by early January.