This will be the first Olympic appearance for both Oliver Bjorkstrand and Nikolaj Ehlers. Denmark's lineup does feature Olympic experience in Jesper Jensen Aabo, a defenseman who has spent three seasons with EC-KAC of the ICE Hockey League and played for Denmark in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
When Denmark's 2026 National hockey team takes the ice next winter for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, their roster will feature offensive firepower that fans love. Tampa Bay Lightning forward, Oliver Bjorkstrand and Winnipeg Jets forward, Nikolaj Ehlers will lead the way; both fan favorites bring goal-scoring power and play-driving abilities to the ice, along with their great personalities.
This will be the first Olympic appearance for both Bjorkstrand and Ehlers. However, in 2022, Bjorkstrand was selected to the first-ever Danish Olympic hockey team, but at the time NHL players were not participating in the Olympics, so he did not play.
Bjorkstrand has represented his home country on the ice internationally though, including 17 games between the U-18 and World Junior Championships, along with 10 games played at the World Championships for the Danish Hockey team.
The right-handed shooter from Herning, Denmark split the 2024-25 season between the Seattle Kraken and Tampa Bay Lightning. He accumulated for 21 goals, 25 assists, 46 points, and was +2 on the ice in 79 games played. He is known for his scoring prowess, his ability to play both ways on the ice, both offensively and defensively, which fans appreciate, and he is known as someone who can lead on the ice, create opportunity for offensive momentum, and create scoring chances.
Beyond the ice, Bjorkstrand is a soft-spoken gentleman who is real when it comes to interviews, and a great personality off the ice and in the locker room.
When Ehlers takes the ice for the Milano Cortino 2026 Olympic Winter Games, it will be his first Olympic appearances. But similar to Bjorkstrand, he has time on the ice at the international level for Denmark. He has played in five IIHF World Championship tournaments, has represented his home country in the world juniors and U18 tournaments, along with the World Junior A Challenge in 2019.
Ehlers has spent the entirety of his career with the Jets. In 2024-25, he was credited with 24 goals, 39 assists, 63 points, and was +14 at the end of the season.
Ehlers is a high-value player who has plus speed and skating abilities, can handle the puck very well on the ice, has the ability to create scoring opportunities, making him an offensive threat. He is especially known for making goals happen at the end of a game and being a threat offensively in the final minutes of matches. And when it comes down to Olympic performances, being able to finish a match makes things really exciting for fans to watch.
Bjorkstrand and Ehlers will be joined on the ice by Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Anderson, who has a .907 save percentage in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Hurricanes; former Pittsburgh Penguins forward, now Washington Capitals forward, Lars Eller; Jesper Jensen Aabo, a defenseman who has spent three seasons with EC-KAC of the ICE Hockey League and played for Denmark in the 2022 Olympic Winter Games; and Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonas Rondbjerg.
Denmark’s roster features Stanley Cup and World Championship experience, along with strong, goal-scoring forwards who are set to keep Danish fans on the edge of their seats when the Olympic Games commence in February.
