Stephane Da Costa to represent France at the 2026 Winter Olympics
KHL.ru keeps on presenting the athletes who will be representing their countries at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Today, it’s Stephane Da Costa’s turn.
The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place in Cortina and Milan, Italy, from Feb. 6-22, 2026, for the 25th edition, the third in Italy, following Cortina d’Ampezzo in 1956 and Turin in 2006. Ice hockey will once again be one of the top events of the program, with the men’s tournament scheduled from Feb 11-22 in Milan. Twelve national teams will compete for Olympic gold at two venues as Team Finland tries to defend its 2022 title.
Stephane Da Costa is one of the most accomplished French forwards in modern hockey and a standout figure in the KHL. The veteran forward has become synonymous with consistent production and leadership at the highest levels of European pro hockey, with his career in the KHL being a clear example of skill, versatility, and longevity. Born on July 11, 1989, in Paris, France, Da Costa developed his game at home before moving to North America as a teenager, ultimately catching the attention of NHL scouts and carving out a successful professional path.
Da Costa’s pro career started after a productive collegiate career at Merrimack College and a stint in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. He signed in the KHL in 2014 with CSKA, immediately making an impact by posting 62 points in 46 games in his debut season in the league. Over three seasons in Moscow, the Frenchman established himself as a top-line scorer and helped lead CSKA to the Gagarin Cup finals in 2016. After a one-year adventure in Switzerland’s top league with Geneve Servette, Da Costa returned to the KHL in 2018, for a first stint in Yekaterinburg.
Across his KHL career, Da Costa has played well over 600 games, suiting up for Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, Ak Bars Kazan, and his initial club CSKA. In those appearances he has scored well above 500 points in regular-season and playoff competition combined, placing him among the top scorers in league history and the first French player to eclipse the 500-point milestone. His production has been remarkably consistent: from his early scoring bursts with CSKA to multi-season stretches of 50-plus points with Avtomobilist and Ak Bars, Da Costa totaled 532 points with 216 goals and 316 helpers across 611 appearances.
In Yekaterinburg, where he has become a central piece of Avtomobilist’s offense in his second extended stint, Da Costa’s experience and skills have been invaluable. In the 2024–2025 season alone he registered 57 points in 66 regular-season games and continued to contribute in the playoffs, while in the current campaign he remains a force in the top six, adding to his already impressive career totals, so far trailing only Reid Boucher in scoring at 38 points, four less than his American teammate.
Internationally, Da Costa has also worn the French national team jersey with distinction, representing Les Bleus at numerous World Championships and Olympic qualifiers. Da Costa was elected one of the top three players for Team France at the 2017 WCs in Cologne and Paris. As the Olympic tournament approaches, Da Costa is expected to be a cornerstone of Team France’s attack, his veteran presence and offensive instincts a crucial asset for Les Bleus; France will open its Olympic campaign on Feb. 12 with a Group A matchup against Team Switzerland in Milan.
