Latest news with #MacKenzieWeegar
CTV News
03-08-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
NHL's best set to gather in Calgary to prepare for 2026 Winter Olympics
Canada's best NHL players will be in Calgary later in August to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics. Canada's best NHL players will be in Calgary later in August to prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics. NHL's best to gather in Calgary Canada's best NHL players will be in Calgary in late August to start preparations for the 2026 Olympics. Forty-two players, including all 24 from Canada's Four Nations Face-Off championship-winning team earlier this year, have been invited to the national teams' orientation camp. Another one of those invited is Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar. Players from the women's and para hockey teams are also part of the three-day camp, which runs Aug. 26-Aug. 29. There will be one thing missing from this camp: on-ice action. Instead, players will get walked through presentations and participate in team meetings. The 2026 Winter Olympics take place in Italy in February.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MacKenzie Weegar Named to Team Canada Orientation Camp
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar has officially been invited to Team Canada's National Teams Orientation Camp, set for August 26–28 in Calgary — another important step toward potentially representing his country on the world's biggest hockey stage.
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MacKenzie Weegar Named to Team Canada Orientation Camp
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar has officially been invited to Team Canada's National Teams Orientation Camp, set for August 26–28 in Calgary — another important step toward potentially representing his country on the world's biggest hockey stage.
Yahoo
01-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MacKenzie Weegar Named to Team Canada Orientation Camp — Olympic Hopes Still Alive
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar has officially been invited to Team Canada's National Teams Orientation Camp, set for August 26–28 in Calgary — another important step toward potentially representing his country on the world's biggest hockey stage. The camp serves as a precursor to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, and includes a select group of NHL blueliners being evaluated for Canada's national roster. It's a welcomed nod for Weegar, who was in strong consideration for the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off but ultimately didn't crack the lineup. Now, he's right back in the mix — and for good reason. The list of defencemen invited to camp includes some of the best Canadian blueliners in the game: Cale Makar, Drew Doughty, Aaron Ekblad, Josh Morrissey, Evan Bouchard, and others. With Olympic spots at a premium, every name on the list brings elite-level pedigree. Weegar's recent play and international resume have earned him a legitimate spot among them. Weegar, 31, is coming off a solid year with the Flames, notching 8 goals and 47 points in 81 games with a +18 rating while logging top-pair minutes. He leads by example on and off the ice and was arguably Calgary's most consistent defencemen. He continues to draw praise as a future captain candidate. This isn't Weegar's first brush with the national team. He suited up for Canada at the 2025 IIHF Men's World Championship, bringing experience and poise to the blue line on international ice. His strong play at that tournament only bolstered his case as a well-rounded defender who can adjust quickly to different systems, teammates, and roles — a valuable trait in short tournament formats like the Olympics. It's not just about points, although Weegar's offensive totals were impressive. His real value lies in his versatility. He plays both sides, handles tough defensive assignments, can chip in on special teams, and thrives in high-pressure situations. His mix of grit, smarts, and adaptability make him a perfect fit for the grind of international competition. He's the kind of player coaches trust — and that might be just what gets him over the hump. Making Team Canada is never easy, especially on defence where the talent pool is deep and the expectations are sky-high. Still, Weegar's trajectory is trending in the right direction, and the invitation to orientation camp is a strong indication that Hockey Canada has taken notice. With continued strong play and his recent Team Canada experience under his belt, don't be surprised if Weegar earns himself a ticket to Italy in 2026. He's no longer on the outside looking in — he's firmly in the conversation.
National Post
01-08-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Calgary Flames defenceman MacKenzie Weegar scores invite to Olympic orientation camp
Calgary Flames rearguard MacKenzie Weegar is officially on the radar to represent Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Article content Weegar was among the invitees announced Friday for Hockey Canada's national teams orientation camp, which is slated for Aug. 26-28 in Calgary and will include the top candidates for the men's, women's and para rosters. Article content Article content The three-day get-together is an off-ice event. The itinerary will include team-building sessions, meetings, presentations and media interviews, but there will not be a star-studded scrimmage. Article content 'While the next several months will bring intense evaluation and difficult roster decisions, we look forward to kicking off the season in Calgary and giving our athletes and staff a chance to come together and start to become one team as we set our sights on February,' said Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, in Friday's announcement. Article content Article content 9⃣2⃣ players from 🇨🇦's men's, women's and para hockey programs have earned invites to National Teams Orientation Camp in Calgary. 9⃣2⃣ athlètes de hockey masculin, de hockey féminin et de parahockey du 🇨🇦 iront au camp d'orientation des équipes nationales à Calgary. — Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) August 1, 2025 Article content Weegar, who was raised in the Ottawa area and is now considered the frontrunner to be the Flames' next captain, was also in the mix to wear the Maple Leaf this past winter at the 4 Nations Face-Off, although he ultimately didn't crack Canada's roster. Article content He is among the 13 defencemen invited to the late August camp. Also on that list are the Colorado Avalanche dynamic duo of Cale Makar and Devon Toews, plus Evan Bouchard of the Edmonton Oilers, Noah Dobson of the Montreal Canadiens, Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings, Aaron Ekblad of the Florida Panthers, Thomas Harley of the Dallas Stars, Brandon Montour of the Seattle Kraken, Josh Morrissey of the Winnipeg Jets, Colton Parayko of the St. Louis Blues, Travis Sanheim of the Philadelphia Flyers and Shea Theodore of the Vegas Golden Knights. (The Calgary-raised Makar is one of a half-dozen dudes already named to the roster. The other five are forwards.) Article content As Hockey Canada's brass ponder their blue-line options for Milano Cortina 2026, they will value Weegar's versatility. The 31-year-old is a right-shot who is also comfortable on the left side of pairing, and he is capable of playing major minutes but can also provide the sort of bite that coaches often covet from those in a bottom-pairing role. Article content Weegar notched eight goals and 47 points in 81 games during the 2024-25 campaign. He led the Flames in assists (39), plus-minus (+18) and average icetime (24:10) and was fifth in the NHL in blocked shots (192). Article content
