Every two years, people across the globe watch the best athletes compete in all sorts of events in the Olympics. Individuals and teams get to create memories that will last a lifetime for themselves and even for people across their respective countries, bringing home medals with exciting close finishes or complete domination.

With the Summer Olympics recently wrapping up, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where, for the first time since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia, NHL players will have the chance to take the ice for their home countries.

Yes, the best players in the world finally receive the chance to represent their country on the biggest stage, both in the 2026 and 2030 Winter Olympics. Canadians will get the chance to watch Connor McDavid wear Canada’s colours for the first time, Americans have the opportunity to see just how much the United States has improved in terms of developing superstar players since a decade ago, and nations like Czechia, Germany, Finland, Sweden, and others will be able to showcase their top talent as well, just as they have been doing at the World Junior Championships.

However, not every nation one might consider is automatically in the tournament, namely Slovakia. They are playing in a four-team Olympic qualifying tournament later in August to determine which team gets a bid to Italy in 2026. Calgary Flames forward Martin Pospisil is a native of Slovakia, and despite wanting to represent his country to try and help them reach the biggest stage, he voiced concerns about the national team allowing players from the KHL to be on the roster after previously protesting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by not allowing said players to be selected.

Despite being reportedly shocked by the news, Martin and his brother Kristián released a joint statement on Kristián’s Instagram that, despite vehemently not changing their opinion on the matter, they both want two things: first, to play on the same team together and, second, to represent their country and try to help Slovakia achieve the best results it can.

Pospisil plays with conviction on the ice in the NHL, and off the ice, his conviction is just as high. In an interview with Dennik Sports that was translated to English, Pospisil not only said he was “shocked” by the news of KHL players being allowed back on the Slovakia national team, but he also talked about how vital his moral standards are to him and that he never wants to divide people, but this information was hard to take in. It required him to think about a decision, which he ultimately came to, and that was playing for his country and with his brother to help provide good representation on a national stage was the priority.

The 24-year-old Pospisil scored 24 points in 63 games with the Flames last season and was a key catalyst not only of the team’s physical play but also helping his line with Nazem Kadri and Connor Zary succeed as much as they did. The hope is that he can help provide that same kind of success with Team Slovakia and deliver them to the 2026 Italy Winter Olympics.