American-born John Schneider roots for Team Canada at the Olympics, and fans love it
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Daniel Lucente
Feb 12, 2026 (3:26 PM)
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Photo credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
John Schneider saying “I want Canada to win the Olympics” hits different as Olympics hockey starts Thursday.
The quote popped up from a Sportsnet clip, and it is real.
Schneider is American, born in Princeton, New Jersey, and he still went full Canada mode.
That is not your usual “nice answer for the cameras” stuff.
He coaches the Toronto Blue Jays, so he lives in the middle of a country that takes hockey personally.
Sportsnet even framed it as Schneider “repping Canada” with that classic Canada-only pressure.
"I want Canada to win the Olympics."
- John Schneider
- John Schneider
Now fast-forward to Milano Cortina, and Canada’s men are actually playing for real on Thursday.
Canada opened with a 5-0 win over Czechia, and yes, NHL players are back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014.
That timing makes Schneider’s line feel louder than it did when he first said it.
John Schneider and the Toronto Blue Jays feel Canadian now
Leafs fans, Sens fans, Habs fans, it does not matter, that Schneider quote scratches the exact itch this week.
It also kind of tracks, because managing Canada’s only MLB team forces you into the “us” mindset.
Thursday’s opener even had the kind of hockey detail Canadians love, a late first-period goal and a clean sheet.
If you are an American coach in Toronto, you learn quickly that a big win is not just a win, it is a mood shift.
Schneider leaning into Team Canada is him reading the room perfectly.
And honestly, it is funny seeing a guy who lives in AL East chaos choose peace by picking the red sweater.
Next up, Canada’s group games keep coming, and Schneider’s quote is going to keep getting replayed every time the man advantage clicks.
Also read on HockeyLatest :
“Was that McDavid?” Team Canada superstar throws a rare crushing hit vs Czechia
“Was that McDavid?” Team Canada superstar throws a rare crushing hit vs Czechia
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 12|92 ANSWERS American-born John Schneider roots for Team Canada at the Olympics, and fans love it Should John Schneider be Team Canada’s honorary hype man for Olympics hockey? | ||
| Yes | 59 | 64.1 % |
| No | 33 | 35.9 % |
| List of polls | ||