The puck has officially dropped in Milan for the 2026 Winter Olympics, and for the first time in 12 years, the “best-on-best” format has returned to the men’s side. With NHL superstars finally back on Olympic ice and the women’s tournament already reaching its boiling point, this is the most anticipated hockey event in a generation.
Here is your comprehensive preview of the 2026 Olympic Hockey tournaments.
Men’s Tournament: The Return of the Titans
The headline of the 2026 Games is the return of the NHL. Since Sochi 2014, fans have been robbed of seeing the world’s best players represent their countries. That wait ended this week as over 150 NHLers arrived in Italy.
The “Big Three” Favorites
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Team Canada: Led by captain Sidney Crosby and alternate Connor McDavid, this is arguably the greatest roster ever assembled. It marks the first time Crosby and McDavid have played together on a global stage. With Nathan MacKinnon and young phenom Macklin Celebrini in the mix, their offense is terrifying.
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Team USA: The Americans have declared a “Gold or Bust” mission. Captained by Auston Matthews, the U.S. squad is built on speed and youth, featuring the Tkachuk brothers (Brady and Matthew) and the Hughes brothers (Quinn and Jack). They are seeking their first gold since the 1980 “Miracle on Ice.”
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Team Sweden: The dark horse with the best defensive corps in the tournament. With Rasmus Dahlin, Victor Hedman, and Erik Karlsson patrolling the blue line, Sweden is built to stifle the high-flying North American offenses.
Men’s Groups & Format
The 12 teams are split into three groups. The three group winners and the best second-place team earn a direct bye to the Quarterfinals.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| Canada | Finland (Defending Gold) | USA |
| Switzerland | Sweden | Germany |
| Czechia | Slovakia | Latvia |
| France | Italy (Host) | Denmark |
Women’s Tournament: The Rivalry Ignites
The women’s tournament began on February 5 and has already delivered high-drama results. Unlike the men’s side, which is just starting, the women are moving into the Knockout Stage.
The Current State of Play
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USA Statement Win: In a massive preliminary showdown on February 10, Team USA shut out Canada 5-0. It was a shocking margin that established the Americans as the team to beat heading into the medals.
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The PWHL Factor: For the first time, these players are coming off a fully professional season (PWHL). The speed and physicality of the game have noticeably increased.
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Players to Watch: * Sarah Fillier (CAN): The “next big thing” in Canadian hockey.
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Hayley Scamurra (USA): Already leading the tournament in goals.
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Alina Müller (SUI): The heart of a Swiss team looking to crash the North American party.
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Key Dates to Circle
The tournaments are being held at the brand-new Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (14,000 capacity).
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Feb 11–15: Men’s Preliminary Round (Group stage matches daily).
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Feb 13–14: Women’s Quarterfinals.
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Feb 16: Women’s Semifinals.
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Feb 18: Men’s Quarterfinals (The most dangerous day in hockey).
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Feb 19: Women’s Gold Medal Game.
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Feb 20: Men’s Semifinals.
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Feb 22: Men’s Gold Medal Game (The final event of the Olympics).
The “X-Factor”: Goaltending
In a short tournament, a hot goalie can beat a superteam. Keep an eye on:
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Connor Hellebuyck (USA): The reigning Vezina winner is the reason many experts pick the U.S. over Canada.
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Lukas Dostal (CZE): After leading Czechia to a World Championship in 2024, he has the “clutch” gene to pull off an upset.
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Jordan Binnington (CAN): The biggest question mark for Canada; if he holds steady, Canada is nearly unbeatable.
