Former Lethbridge Hurricanes Oliver Okuliar (left) and Akira Schmid (right) are competing at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics (Image Credit: Elite Prospects / SinBin.Vegas)

By David Opinko

Two former Lethbridge Hurricanes competing at Olympics

Feb 11, 2026 | 12:51 PM

The Milan Cortina Olympic Games have seen several CHL alumni competing.

The league says 96 people who have been part of the league are taking part in the men’s ice hockey tournament, running Feb. 11-12, 2026.

CHL alumni actually make up more than 30 per cent of all players in the men’s tournament – the most of any development hockey league in the world.

It is also the only development league globally to feature at least one alumnus from each of the 12 countries competing in the tournament.

Nearly 85 per cent of Team Canada’s men’s hockey roster was developed in the WHL, OHL, and WMJHL, including all three goaltenders and 13 of its 14 forwards.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

There are also two players with connections to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Oliver Okuliar is playing for Team Slovakia.

He competed in 55 games with the Hurricanes in the 2019-2020 season, amassing 68 points (33g-35a).

The 25-year-old is currently a member of Skellefteå AIK, a professional team in the Swedish Hockey League.

Akira Schmid technically qualifies as a Lethbridge Hurricanes alumnus, although the goalie was only part of one game in the 2018-2019 season.

He is skating with Team Switzerland in the 2026 Olympics.

Schmid is now 25 years old and has spent the last five seasons securing the net for the New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights.

Olympic hockey players with connections to Alberta include:

• Team Canada:
  • (F) Connor McDavid (Erie Otters / OHL), Edmonton Oilers 
  • (G) Darcy Kuemper (Spokane Chiefs & Red Deer Rebels / WHL), Los Angeles Kings 
  • (F) Brandon Hagel (Red Deer Rebels / WHL), Tampa Bay Lightning 
  • (D) Travis Sanheim (Calgary Hitmen / WHL), Philadelphia Flyers 
• Team Slovakia:
  • (F) Oliver Okuliar (Sherbrooke Phoenix / QMJHL & Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL), Skelleftea 
  • (D) Martin Gernat (Edmonton Oil Kings / WHL), Lokomotiv Yaroslavl 
• Team Switzerland:
  • (G) Akira Schmid (Lethbridge Hurricanes / WHL), Vegas Golden Knights 
• Team Chezia:
  • (D) Tomas Kundratek (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL), Oceláři Třinec 
  • (F) David Tomasek (Belleville Bulls / OHL), Edmonton Oilers 
• Team Denmark:
  • (G) Mads Sogaard (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL), Belleville Senators
• Team Italy:
  • (F) Matt Bradley (Medicine Hat Tigers & Regina Pats / WHL), Bolzano HC
• Team Latvia:
  • (D) Kristian Rubins (Medicine Hat Tigers / WHL), Plzen 
• Team Germany:
  • (F) Leon Draisaitl (Prince Albert Raiders & Kelowna Rockets / WHL), Edmonton Oilers

You can see the full list of CHL alumni competing at the 2026 Olympics here.