The Ice King Cometh: Connor Storrie Hosting SNL

Grab your smelling salts and lace up your skates, because Studio 8H is about to get a serious dose of Russian (or, well, Canadian-playing-Russian) intensity. NBC has officially confirmed that Connor Storrie will host Saturday Night Live

on February 28, 2026. Coming off the heels of the Winter Olympics hiatus, Storrie is trading his hockey jersey for sketch wigs, and frankly, the internet is barely holding it together.

From the Rink to Rockefeller Center

If you’ve been living under a literal rock or perhaps just don’t have a TikTok account, Storrie is the breakout lead of

Heated Rivalry, the hockey drama that has single-handedly kept the sports-romance genre on life support. His portrayal of the brooding, enigmatic Ilya Rozanov has turned him into an overnight household name.

But while most fans are tuning in to see if he’ll drop the accent (or his shirt), seasoned TV Cave dwellers know there’s a secret weapon in Storrie’s back pocket: he’s a professional clown. No, really. Before he was dodging pucks on screen, Storrie was a fixture in the Los Angeles clowning circuit. If SNL creator Lorne Michaels wanted someone who understands physical comedy and the art of the "bit," he couldn't have picked a better candidate to ring in the post-Olympic season.

A High-Stakes February Lineup

Storrie isn’t coming alone. Mumford & Sons are slated as the musical guest, returning to the stage to promote their latest effort, Prizefighter. It’s a classic SNL pairing: the white-hot "it boy" of the moment paired with a veteran folk-rock act.

The timing is impeccable. Storrie’s announcement came during the show’s massive 1,000th-episode celebration, proving that NBC is banking on his "Gen Z heartthrob" status to carry the momentum of their milestone year. With his co-star Hudson Williams recently spotted lurking around New York City, the rumor mill is already churning regarding a potential Heated Rivalry cameo. If we don’t get a "Rozanov vs. Talbot" locker room sketch, what is even the point of broadcast television?

Will the Clown King Conquer?

The transition from dramatic lead to sketch comedian is a minefield. For every Adam Driver who thrives in the absurdity, there’s a stiff athlete or "serious actor" who looks like they’re being held hostage by the cue cards. However, Storrie’s background suggests he’ll be more the former. Between his recent stint as an Olympic torchbearer and his charmingly chaotic Golden Globes presentation, he has the "it" factor required to survive a live 90-minute broadcast.

Expect plenty of self-deprecating jokes about hockey culture, a likely jab at his overnight fame, and if we’re lucky at least one sketch that lets him lean into his weird, avant-garde comedy roots.

As we count down to February 28, one thing is certain: Storrie is no longer just a "rivalry" to watch; he’s the main event. Whether he sticks the landing or crashes into the boards, it’s going to be the most talked-about episode of the season.

Do you think Connor Storrie has the comedic chops to join the SNL greats, or should he stick to the ice rink? Let us know your sketch predictions in the comments below!