Proud Affiliate of the Vegas Golden Knights
Wearing your country’s colors on hockey’s biggest stage is an honor saved for a very exclusive club of players. Jonas Røndbjerg has been able to represent his native Denmark for over a decade, from U16’s to World Championships. Now Røndbjerg will put on his country’s jersey for the 2026 Olympic Games.
Hockey is still a growing sport in the Scandinavian country, making this Olympic qualification particularly meaningful. This will be just the second time Denmark has qualified for the Winter Games, the other time coming in 2022 at the Beijing games, where the Danes finished seventh overall.
“It meant a lot. I remember when we qualified last summer and the whole group, the whole nation, actually got really excited and there was a lot more focus on hockey. So, it’s a really exciting time,” said Røndbjerg.
Simply qualifying brings excitement and optimism for what could come once the puck hits the ice in Italy, but it also provides a different feeling inside the locker room once the pressure of earning a spot in the field has waned.
“Relieved. I think it’s only the second time we’ve gone, and last time was without fans and the village and stuff like that. So, yeah, it’s a big accomplishment.”
For Røndbjerg, he doesn’t need to look far to see several fellow Olympians. Seven members of the Golden Knights organization will be joining him in Milan. Mark Stone, Mitch Marner, and Shea Theodore will be playing for Team Canada. Jack Eichel and Noah Hanifin will be on Team USA. Tomas Hertl and Akria Schmid will be playing for Team Czechia and Team Switzerland, respectively. All of them and their teams will present a formidable challenge for Røndbjerg and Team Denmark.
“That’s going to be fun, a challenge. Those guys are really good at hockey, so it’s going to be a big challenge to play against those guys. Then we play the US in our second game, so obviously we’re going to see Jack and Hanny. So that’s going to be difficult.”
Although he is not being joined by any of his club teammates on Team Denmark, Rondbjerg won’t be short on familiar faces when the Olympic tournament begins. Across the NHL and AHL, Denmark boasts several established players, including Lars Eller, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Frederik Andersen, all of whom bring experience and leadership to the roster. Rondbjerg’s own talent, specifically his defensive reliability and ability to match up against top competition could be central to how far the Danes go.
“Well, I think I’m pretty good defensively playing against tough guys, which we’re going to see a lot. So hopefully I can contribute that way, shutting down some other better players.”
While other nations will arrive in Italy as medal favorites, Denmark has already proven it belongs on the Olympic stage. In the country’s debut Olympic game in 2022, Denmark shocked Czechia with a 2-1 victory, a reminder that results are earned on the ice, not on paper. With a growing sense of national excitement, a roster of NHL-caliber talent, and players like Rondbjerg ready to embrace key roles, Denmark enters the Olympics looking to do more than just participate.
“Everybody on that team is really good. It’s fun to see new guys, like leaders and you’re actually trying to work their game. I think it’s a pretty deep roster we have, and everybody can tell.”