St. Louis Stars Head to the 2026 Winter Olympics

As the world prepares for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy, a number of athletes from the St. Louis region are set to make their mark on the global stage. The games will take place from February 6 to February 22, featuring over 40 sports, including figure skating, ice hockey, skiing, and snowboarding. With the United States Olympic trials concluded, Team USA has finalized its roster, and several athletes with ties to the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Area are among those competing.

Five Ice Hockey Stars from St. Louis

Five athletes who were born or raised in the St. Louis area will represent the United States in ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Here’s a closer look at each of them:

Joy Dunne

Joy Dunne, 20, is making her Olympic debut as a member of the U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey team. Born and raised in O’Fallon, Missouri, she attended Fort Zumwalt South High School before joining Ohio State University. Over three seasons, she recorded 73 goals and 74 assists for 147 points in 91 games. Dunne scored the game-winning goal in Ohio State’s national title-clinching game in 2024, earning NCAA Division 1 Women’s Hockey Rookie of the Year honors that season.

Dunne has also competed for Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship for the past three years, winning a bronze in U18 competition in 2023, a silver in 2024, and a gold in 2025 in standard competition. Her sister, Jinny Dunne, represented Team USA in the 2022 Winter Olympics, while her older brother, Josh Dunne, played in the NHL with the Columbus Blue Jackets and Buffalo Sabres.

Clayton Keller

Clayton Keller, 27, is a forward and captain of the NHL’s Utah Mammoth. He was born in Chesterfield, Missouri, and raised in Swansea, Illinois, both suburbs of St. Louis. Keller played for the St. Louis “AAA” Blues as a child and later attended Shattuck-Saint Mary’s in Minnesota. Drafted seventh overall in the 2016 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, he spent eight seasons with the franchise before moving to Utah.

Keller has accumulated 212 goals and 346 assists for 558 points in 655 games. He has also competed for Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship, winning gold in U18 competition in 2015, gold in World Junior competition in 2017, and gold in standard competition in 2025.

Nick Saracino

Nick Saracino, 33, is representing Italy in the men’s ice hockey tournament. Born and raised in St. Louis, he holds dual citizenship and is eligible to play for the Italian team. Saracino competed in local youth hockey programs, including the Affton Americans, and graduated from Christian Brothers College High School in 2010. He helped his high school team win two state championships.

After high school, Saracino played for Providence College, scoring 46 goals and 70 assists for 116 points over four seasons. He also played in the AHL, USHL, and ICEHL leagues.

Brady Tkachuk

Brady Tkachuk, 26, is a forward and captain of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators. Born in Scottsdale, Arizona, he was raised in St. Louis while his father, Keith Tkachuk, played for the St. Louis Blues. Brady competed in the St. Louis “AAA” Blues as a child and joined the USA Hockey National Team Development Program as a teenager.

Drafted fourth overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, Tkachuk has 204 goals and 233 assists for 437 points in 545 games. He has also competed for Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship, winning gold in U18 competition in 2017 and a bronze in World Junior competition in 2018. He recently played in the NHL’s inaugural “4 Nations Face-Off” Tournament with his brother, scoring three goals in three games.

Matthew Tkachuk

Matthew Tkachuk, 28, is a forward and alternate captain of the NHL’s Florida Panthers. Like his brother, he was raised in St. Louis and played for the St. Louis “AAA” Blues as a child. He attended Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis County before joining the USA Hockey National Team Development Program.

Drafted sixth overall in the 2016 NHL Draft, Tkachuk spent six seasons with the Calgary Flames before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 2022. He has 242 goals and 400 assists for 642 points in 648 games. Tkachuk has also competed for Team USA in the International Ice Hockey Federation Men’s World Championship, winning gold in U18 competition in 2015 and a bronze in World Junior competition in 2016. He played in the “4 Nations Face-Off” Tournament with his brother, scoring two goals and one assist in three games.

Other Athletes from the St. Louis Region

In addition to the ice hockey players, there are other athletes from the St. Louis area competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics. Noah Elliott, a St. Charles, Missouri native, will compete in men’s para snowboarding, having won a gold medal in 2018 and a bronze in 2022. Josh Pauls, an alum of Lindenwood University, will compete in men’s sled hockey, with four previous gold medals.

Other athletes with ties to the region include Tage Thompson, Caleb Furnell, Sarah Warren, and Lindsey Vonn. While Vonn is currently recovering from an injury, she remains on track to compete in the women’s alpine skating events.

Final Thoughts

The 2026 Winter Olympics will feature a diverse group of athletes from across the United States, with several stars hailing from the St. Louis area. From ice hockey to para sports, these athletes are set to showcase their talents on the global stage. Their stories highlight the strong athletic traditions of the region and the dedication required to reach the pinnacle of international competition.