(Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images)

The U.S. men's hockey team tabbed Auston Matthews as its captain for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Sunday.

Matthews keeps the C on his chest for the Americans after serving in that role for the 4 Nations Face-Off in February 2025, in which they fell to Canada in an overtime final.

The Toronto Maple Leafs star will be flanked by alternate captains Charlie McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk.

'Auston, Charlie and Matthew did a great job in leading our team a year ago at Four Nations and it's great to have them back in those roles for the Olympics,' U.S. general manager Bill Guerin said in a statement. 'They all bring different leadership traits to the table and I know all three are excited, as is our whole team, about representing our country as part of Team USA.'

Matthews, 28, has tallied 48 points in 51 games this NHL season for the Leafs (26 goals, 22 assists).

A former No. 1 overall draft pick, the 2021-22 Hart Memorial Trophy winner for league MVP and a three-time league scoring leader, Matthews is one of many young hockey stars playing in his first Olympics. NHL players are participating in the men's hockey competition at the Games for the first time since 2014.

McAvoy, 28, has four goals and 35 assists in 45 games this season as a defenseman for the Boston Bruins. Tkachuk, 28, recently returned from offseason hernia surgery to play in 10 games for the Florida Panthers before the Olympic break.

While the women's hockey competition is underway in Milan, the men's competition begins Wednesday and the U.S. team takes on Latvia in its first match Thursday. Most NHL players arrived in Italy early Sunday morning and Team USA had its first practice later in the day.

--Field Level Media