2026 Olympics Ice Hockey Tournament Schedule Announced

The International Ice Hockey Federation has officially released the game schedules for both the men’s and women’s hockey tournaments at the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy. The events will showcase some of the best talents from around the world, with both NHL players and national teams vying for gold.

Women’s Tournament Overview

The women’s hockey tournament will kick off on February 5, with the United States taking on Czechia and Canada facing Finland in the opening matches. As the tournament progresses, the thrilling rivalry between the U.S. and Canada will renew on February 10 during the preliminary rounds. The tournament will culminate with the gold-medal game scheduled for February 19.

Men’s Tournament Details

Following the women’s opening matches, the men’s hockey tournament will commence on February 6. Notably, this tournament will feature the return of NHL players, with Finland starting against Slovakia and host country Italy playing against Sweden. The absence of Russia in the 12-team competition means a new group dynamic, with the U.S. drawn alongside Germany, Latvia, and Denmark. The U.S. will open its campaign against Latvia on the same day as Canada meets Czechia.

This year’s tournament marks the first time NHL players will compete since the Sochi Olympics in 2014. U.S. general manager Bill Guerin expressed enthusiasm about their return, stating, “It’s great that the NHL players are back in the Olympics. Obviously, it’s the biggest sports stage in the world, and we’re all happy we’re back involved.”

Competition Format

In the men’s tournament, no team will be eliminated during the group stage. The top four teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight teams will participate in a qualification round. The competitions will be staged on NHL-sized rinks located at the Milano Santagiulia and Milano Rho arenas.

The final match of the men’s tournament is set for February 22, coinciding with the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

Team Preparations

The announcement of the schedule came shortly after the respective federations unveiled their initial roster selections. The U.S. has named its first six players, comprising forwards Matthew Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, alongside defensemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy.

Finland enters the Olympics as the defending champion, having secured gold in 2022 when the NHL withdrew from the tournament due to pandemic scheduling conflicts. Canada, on the other hand, aims for a third consecutive Olympic gold following victories in both 2010 and 2014. Canadian GM Doug Armstrong commented on the current squad’s determination, emphasizing, “I know our group wants to go there and wants to put their best foot forward. There’s no guarantees in this sport, but I know we’re going to go with the right attitude.”