Canes goalie Frederik Andersen’s Olympic path includes career, country, community
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- Frederik Andersen represents Denmark at the Milan Winter Games, joining NHL peers.
- Denmark makes second Olympic hockey appearance after a 2022 debut, seventh-place finish.
- Andersen, who led the NHL in 2025, melds national pride, teammates, and family support.
When Frederik Andersen takes the ice Thursday at the Winter Olympics, the opponents won’t feel all that unfamiliar.
Some will be former teammates. Others will be current teammates. But for the Danish goaltender, that’s part of what makes this moment so special: the chance to compete alongside and against lifelong friends, all on the world stage.
“It will be fun to see both competitors, old teammates, and friends in a fully different environment, I think none of us have really experienced before,” said Andersen, who is one of five Carolina Hurricanes competing in the Milan Winter Games.
Hurricanes forward Nikolaj Ehlers will also represent Denmark, a pairing that marks the increasing representation of Danish hockey players in the NHL.
With so few Danes in the league, Andersen said, the opportunity to play alongside Ehlers both during the NHL season and again on the Olympic stage makes the experience extra special.
“It felt amazing to be able to qualify for Denmark,” Andersen said, nodding to the significant moment for him and his home country.
Denmark’s qualification this year marked only the second Olympic appearance for the national team, following its debut at the 2022 Beijing Games, where the team finished seventh. As one of the most accomplished Danish players in NHL history, Andersen, who led the NHL with a .937 save percentage in 2025, will be a cornerstone for Denmark as it continues to make strides in establishing its name in the hockey world.
Beyond the competition, Andersen is also looking forward to experiencing the broader atmosphere of the Games. While the NHL schedule rarely allows time to step outside of hockey, he is eager to meet other Team Denmark athletes and support them, as well.
“People talk about the village in other sports, and you get to mingle and intertwine with different athletes from your country, and maybe go check out some of those events too.”
This opportunity also carries personal meaning. Andersen said his family plans to make the 15- to 16-hour drive from Denmark to Milan to watch him compete. “It’s obviously a great effort for them to come and watch me, so they are super proud and very excited to go and watch some great hockey and experience this as well.”
Their trip is the latest example of the commitment that has followed Andersen throughout his career. These Olympics are a rare chance to bring career, country, and community together on hockey’s biggest international stage, and another reason to leave everything on the ice.
Jordan Gooch is a student with UNC Media Hub, a program with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, reporting from the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.