Kuemper, like Binnington, is a Stanley Cup champion, winning it as the starting goalie for the Colorado Avalanche in 2022.
This season the 35-year-old is 10-6-6 with a 2.19 GAA, .917 save percentage and two shutouts in 23 games.
He called it a dream come true.
“I mean, growing up playing on the outdoor pond or in the front road playing street hockey, like you’re always dreaming of playing for the Olympics,” Kuemper said. “Yeah, I think every kid in Canada wants to put on that maple leaf in that kind of setting, so it’s such an honor.”
Drew Doughty, his teammate on the Kings who was also named to the Olympics roster, said he knew Kuemper would make the team.
“He deserved it,” Doughty said. “I was telling him all year, ‘you’re going to be on that team.’ I mean, obviously I didn’t know, but I was like, ‘there’s no way they’re not taking you.’ How well he plays for us, how well he played last year, this year, like, I don’t see how they could have ever left him off.
“Just sent him an emoji of a gold medal, and that was it this morning.”
Thompson won the Stanley Cup with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023 but was injured in March of that season and didn’t play in the postseason.
But it’s his play since then that earned him an Olympic roster spot. His 46 wins the past two seasons are the most among Canada-born goalies, and this season he’s 15-10-3 with a 2.33 GAA, .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 28 games.
“It’s the thing you dream about, wearing the (maple) leaf on your jersey as a kid,” Thompson said. “I watched the Olympics growing up. … This is the biggest stage in the world and just really looking forward and excited to be there and a part of that team.”
Armstrong said it was a fully collaborative decision among the management and coaching staff, but Team Canada goaltending coach David Alexander, who has the same position with the Blues, played a significant role in determining the three goalies chosen.
“I put a lot of stock into his opinion,” Armstrong said. “He scouts the goalies. He and Jon (Cooper, Team Canada coach) talk a lot about it. I’m going to say, as a management group, we didn’t spend a lot of time talking about the goaltending. But that group (to choose from) was extensive, and we believe that the three that we named have earned that right.”
NHL.com independent correspondents Ryan Boulding and Dan Greenspan contributed to this report.
