Texas Stars Dot Olympic Rosters Far Beyond 2026

Jake Oettinger in 2020 (Credit: Texas Stars)

While the AHL will continue for these next two weeks, the NHL is paused as the hockey world looks to Milan, Italy, for the return of NHL players to the Olympic games starting today.

The Dallas Stars are sending a significant number of players to northern Italy to compete this year, but it's far from the first time that the Texas Stars have found their way into international play on the Olympic stage. 

It took a few minutes, and I promise I didn't use ChatGPT, but we pulled the list of Texas Stars all-time players to compete in an Olympic games. Without reading ahead, would you believe that two players skated with the Chinese Olympic team in 2022? Further, can you guess how many medals former Texas Stars have won all-time?

UNITED STATES

Nagle in 2014 (Credit: Texas Stars)

G Pat Nagle (2022)

The US has been pretty light on Texas Stars historically. Both players to appear are goalies. Pat Nagle was the first, however, heading to Beijing in 2022 on a club that did not allow NHL-contracted players. Nagle did not play with current IceHog Drew Commesso and Strauss Man splitting the four games that the US played. Coincidentally, Nagle also never played a game for Texas and only dressed as a backup. The US finished off the podium in 2022, eliminated in the quarterfinals by Slovakia.

Oettinger in 2021 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

G Jake Oettinger (2026)

Discussed for so long now that it feels like his birthright, Jake Oettinger is certainly the most significant American to make the team in Texas Stars history. Even if there were half a dozen more names in this section, that would still likely be the case. Now in Milan, he battles to get more than a cursory start versus Connor Hellebuyck.

CANADA

Benn in 2010 (Credit: Cassandra Cruz/Texas Stars)

F Jamie Benn (2014) 🥇

This is Jamie Benn at the height of his powers. Branded "Sochi Benn" by Sean Shapiro at the time, the Texas Stars inaugural year hero played in six games and collected a pair of goals en route to a gold medal for an exceptionally stacked Canada roster. Stars farm product, but from before the Texas Stars' time, Mike Smith was also the third goalie for this tournament.

Desjardins in 2014 (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

HC Willie Desjardins (2018) 🥉

As NHL players left the scene in 2018, so did NHL coaches. That opened up an opportunity for Calder Cup champion Willie Desjardins to coach the Canadian squad. Russia and Germany tilted for gold, but Canada captured bronze over the Czech Republic. It was a 6-4 game that included a goal by former Dallas Star Derek Roy.

Peters in 2017 (Credit: Texas Stars)

G Justin Peters (2018) 🥉

Ben Scrivens and Kevin Poulin, two names you probably remember from AHL headlines if you were around back then, led the way for Canada, but Justin Peters was the third goalie. He did not play in any games but still earned bronze just the same with Canada. He would play two more seasons in Czechia before retiring in 2020.

Harley in 2023 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

D Thomas Harley (2026)

After his injury fill-in at the 4 Nations Tournament, Harley became a lock for the Canadian 2026 squad. He'll be part of the standard top 6, which feels pretty incredible for a kid who came in with many of the same warts as any offensive defenseman to Texas. Of course, famously, he worked through them and became one of the world's top blue liners. Canada is one of the favorites for the tournament, so Harley figures to add to the medal count for the Texas Stars.

SWEDEN

Hellberg in 2025 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

G Magnus Hellberg (2018, 2022)

With Hellberg, we have the first multi-Olympic appearance player (but not the last). The one-year goalie for Texas did not play in 2018 but started two contests in 2022. His numbers there were pretty stellar as well with a .927 SV%. He was 1-1 though. In 2018, the Swedes lost to Germany in a quarterfinal OT heartbreaker. In 2022, Sweden lost to Slovakia in the bronze medal game 4-0 with tournament MVP Juraj Slafkovský scoring two goals.

Olofsson in 2022 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

F Fredrik Olofsson (2022)

Forward Olofsson only played half a season's worth of games for Texas. He played in all six Olympic games for Sweden in 2022 in Beijing. Part of the same team that fell to Slovakia in the bronze game above, Olofsson had a single assist in the tourney, the secondary on the tournament's very first goal for Sweden.

FINLAND

Lindell in 2016 (Credit: Texas Stars)

D Esa Lindell (2026)

Eventually the Finnish pipeline in Dallas had to turn into Olympic participation. This is that year for the Finns. Lindell, who played 80 games with Texas over three seasons, will anchor the blue line for his country, perhaps even on a pairing with fellow Dallas Star Miro Heiskanen.

Hintz in 2018 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

F Roope Hintz (2026)

The speedster from Tampere makes his Olympic debut after the 4 Nations Tournament last year. Known as the Ace of Spades stateside, Hintz was a key force in Texas' 2018 run to the Calder Cup Finals, making it to Game 7 before falling to Toronto.

Kiviranta in 2020 (Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

F Joel Kiviranta (2026)

Most famous in Dallas lore for his hat trick game in the 2020 bubble playoff, Kiviranta made his way onto the Olympic roster after not making the 4 Nations last season. "Kivi" only played 48 games for Texas before making his way to Dallas and later Colorado in the NHL.

RUSSIA

Nichushkin interviewing with 100 Degree and others in 2015 (via YouTube)

F Valeri Nichushkin (2014)

Broadly, Texas has not had a lot of Russian players in team history. Valeri Nichushkin is arguably the most notable Russian to play for Texas. On home ice, Nichushkin played for his country in 2014 in Sochi. The Russians were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Finland. Nichushkin scored a single goal in the first game of the tourney against Slovenia. He would likely have been on the 2026 squad for Russia if not for the IIHF ban of Russia and Belarus.

CZECHIA

Stránský in 2017 (Credit: Texas Stars)

F Matěj Stránský (2022, 2026)

Another two-time Olympian, Stransky won a Calder Cup with Texas and has had an incredible European career since then. He is the captain of his Swiss League team, Davos, just won the Spengler Cup and leads the league in both goals and points at the 2026 Olympic break. Unfortunately for Czechia in 2022, they missed the quarterfinals for the first time ever, landing in ninth place.

Faksa in 2014 (Credit: Christina Shapiro/Texas Stars)

F Radek Faksa (2026)

With the return of NHLers to the Games, Radek Faksa makes his Olympic debut in 2026. Robert Tiffin wrote all the words you need to read about Faksa himself and Faksa's connection with Stránský. I'm just excited to see the re-emergence of the term "Czeching line". But then again, isn't every line on this team a Czeching line?

SWITZERLAND

Blindenbacher in 2010 (Credit: Ron Byrd/Texas Stars)

D Severin Blindenbacher (2006, 2010, 2014)

The only three-time Olympian on the list, Blindenbacher plied his trade earlier in the Texas Stars history and even pre-dated the creation of the team with his first Olympic appearance. The Swiss defenseman has a significant international career with near-annual World Cup participation. Switzerland has not medaled in the Olympics since 1948. Their best finish with Blindenbacher on the backend was their sixth place ranking in 2006 where they had a surprise 2-0 group stage win over Canada.

CHINA

Werek in 2017 (Credit: Texas Stars)

F Ethan Werek (2022)

Ontario native Ethan Werek or "Ruike Wei" joined the Chinese Olympic team as a naturalized citizen after playing for Beijing's Kunlun Red Star (KHL) for three seasons. China, of course, had a team as the host country. Werek only played 55 games for Texas on a 2016-17 team that missed the playoffs. In the Olympic games, China did not win a game, but Werek assisted on a goal in the playoff elimination game against Canada.

Kane in 2016 (Credit: Texas Stars)

F Cory Kane (2022)

California native Cory Kane or "An Jian" was another naturalized citizen for China in 2022. After playing the 2015-16 season with Texas, Kane spent one year in Czechia and then played the rest of his career with Kunlun, a total of seven seasons and 284 games. In the Olympic games, Kane scored twice. His first was the goal mentioned above, assisted by Werek. His second was in the same game, a power play tally assisted by Luke Lockhart and former AHLer Jake Chelios. Kane's two goals made up half of the Chinese teams entire tournament total.