2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Tournament Schedule Announced
The schedule for the upcoming men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments at the 2026 Winter Olympics, set to be held in Milan and Cortina, was disclosed by the International Ice Hockey Federation on Tuesday.
Women’s Tournament Details
The women’s tournament kicks off on February 5, featuring an opening match between the United States and Czechia, alongside Canada going up against Finland. A highlight of the preliminary rounds will be the classic matchup between the U.S. and Canada on February 10, while the highly anticipated gold medal game is planned for February 19.
Men’s Tournament Information
In the men’s competition, which welcomes NHL players back for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games, the action starts on February 6. Notably, Finland will compete against Slovakia, and host nation Italy will go head-to-head with Sweden. With Russia excluded from this year’s competition, the U.S. team finds itself in a group with Germany, Latvia, and Denmark. The American squad will face Latvia first on February 12, the same day Canada meets Czechia.
“The return of NHL players to the Olympics is fantastic,” stated Bill Guerin, the general manager for Team USA. “The Olympics represent the pinnacle of sports, and we’re delighted to be part of it again.”
On the men’s side, all teams will remain in contention throughout the group stage, as no teams will be eliminated initially. The four best-performing teams will secure spots in the quarterfinals, while the other eight will compete in a qualification round.
Event Locations and Highlights
The games are set to unfold on NHL-style rinks at the Milano Santagiulia and Milano Rho arenas, culminating with the gold medal match on February 22, just prior to the Olympics’ closing ceremony.
The announcement of the tournament schedule came shortly after the federations listed the first six players who earned spots on their respective teams. Team USA’s roster includes prominent NHL talent such as forwards Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, and Jack Eichel, alongside defensemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy.
Defending Champions and Team Insights
Finland enters the tournament as the reigning Olympic champion, following their triumph in Beijing 2022 when NHL participation was curtailed due to pandemic challenges. Russia had secured the gold in 2018, while Canada has dominated the previous two Olympic events featuring NHL players.
Doug Armstrong, the Canadian GM, expressed his enthusiasm for the roster, stating, “I’m thrilled with our group and confident that they are eager to perform at their best. While there are no guarantees, we will approach the competition with the right mindset.”
