Following years of dedication to sport through the grassroots level to high performance, 21 individuals from Saskatchewan will represent the province at the Olympic Winter Games February 6-22 in Milano Cortina.
The contingent will feature six officials, four support and mission staff, four coaches and seven athletes with ties to the province.
Regina’s Mark McMorris will be looking to add more hardware to his already impressive tally. The three-time Olympic bronze medallist in snowboard slopestyle will be making his fourth Games’ appearance when he travels to Milano Cortina.
Making their third trips to the Olympics will be Saskatoon’s Emily Clark who has previously won Olympic gold and silver with the Canadian women’s hockey team and Olympic gold medal-winning curler Ben Hebert who hails from Regina.
Meanwhile, four Saskatchewan athletes will make their Olympic debuts, including Saskatoon’s Darcy Kuemper and Saskatoon-born Brandon Hagel with men’s hockey and Regina’s Logan Pletz in biathlon, as well as Saskatoon’s Maia Schwinghammer in freestyle skiing.
“Congratulations to the athletes, coaches, officials and support staff who will be representing our province on Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy,” said Alana Ross, Minister of Parks, Culture and Sport. “Thank you for inspiring our province, and our country. Know that the entire province will be behind you every step of the way. Best of luck in Milano Cortina.”
On the coaching front Olympic bronze medallist Lyndon Rush (bobsleigh) will return to his fifth Games, third as a coach, after attending previously as an athlete, Adam Burwell (snowboard) is attending his fourth Olympics, Laine Peters (mixed doubles curling) will attend her second Games and William Dutton (long track speed skating) will be at his first Games as a coach after attending once before as an athlete.
Team Canada mission staff will include Lisa Hoffart as the Mental Health Lead, while Chris Dornan will assist as a media attaché. Ryan Getzlaf will accompany the men’s hockey team as a player relations advisor and Jodi Perras will support the Canadian cross country skiing team as a massage therapist.
Saskatchewan will also have six officials in attendance, with Alex Clarke, Michelle McKenna, Cianna Murray and Tarrington Wyonzek at the hockey rink, Karen Howard judging figure skating, and Moyca Stoffel as an assistant referee in long track speed skating.
“On behalf of the amateur sport system in our province, I would like to congratulate all the athletes, coaches, mission and support staff, as well as officials, on reaching amateur sport’s grandest stage,” said Amy Prokop, Sask Sport Chair. “Attending the Olympic Games is a terrific achievement, and each member of the contingent should be applauded for their accomplishments as should all those who assisted them along their journey. Each of these individuals are incredible ambassadors for sport in Saskatchewan and they each make us Sask Proud.”
Join Sask Sport, Sask Lotteries and the Canadian Sport Centre Saskatchewan on cheeronsask.ca for everything you need to know about the Olympics and Paralympics. The website documents the athletes, coaches, officials and staff from Saskatchewan on their journey to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, features a comprehensive schedule specific to the Saskatchewan athletes that includes date, times, viewing options and results and will house daily recaps with results and information specific to the Saskatchewan contingent. It will also feature an aggregate of news from the Canadian Olympic Committee, Canadian Paralympic Committee and National Sport Organizations.
Follow along on social media on @SaskSport, @SaskLotteries and @CSCSaskatchewan and use the hashtag #SaskProud for further updates and information from cheeronsask.ca.
Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games – Saskatchewan Contingent
ATHLETES
Emily Clark – Women’s Hockey, Saskatoon
Ben Hebert – Men’s Curling, Regina
Darcy Kuemper – Men’s Hockey, Saskatoon
Brandon Hagel – Men’s Hockey, Saskatoon
Mark McMorris – Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle and Big Air, Regina
Logan Pletz – Men’s Biathlon, Regina
Maia Schwinghammer – Women’s Freestyle Skiing, Saskatoon
COACHES
Adam Burwell – Snowboard, Regina
William Dutton – Long Track Speed Skating, Humboldt
Laine Peters – Mixed Doubles Curling, Carrot River
Lyndon Rush – Bobsleigh, Humboldt
SUPPORT STAFF
Chris Dornan – Bobsleigh Media Attache, Saskatoon
Ryan Getzlaf – Men’s Hockey Player Relations Advisor, Regina
Lisa Hoffart – Team Canada Mental Health Lead, Regina
Jodi Perras – Cross Country Skiing Massage Therapist, North Battleford
OFFICIALS
Alex Clarke – Hockey, Drake
Karen Howard – Figure Skating, Regina
Michelle McKenna – Hockey, Moose Jaw
Cianna Murray – Hockey, Cudworth
Moyca Stoffel – Long Track Speed Skating, Saskatoon
Tarrington Wyonzek, Hockey, Yorkton