Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 Men's Hockey Tournament Preview: NHL Players Return for Intense Competition
The men's hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 is set to kick off on Feb. 11 with Team Slovakia facing Team Finland and Team Sweden taking on host Team Italy. This tournament marks the return of NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Olympics. All 12 teams will play three preliminary games in their respective groups before moving on to a single-elimination playoff, culminating in the gold medal game on Feb. 22.
Team USA, placed in Group C, will start their campaign against Team Latvia on Feb. 12, followed by matches against Team Denmark on Feb. 14 and Team Germany on Feb. 15. Team Canada will also begin on Feb. 12 against Team Czechia, then face Team Switzerland and Team France on Feb. 14 and 15, respectively. The games will be held at either the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena or the Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milano.
The preliminary rosters of all 12 countries have been announced, with the first six players named. Among the 72 players, 61 are under NHL contracts. The New Jersey Devils and Florida Panthers have the most representation, with players like Nico Hischier, Aleksander Barkov, and others making the cut. The schedule for the men's hockey tournament includes group stage matches and playoffs leading up to the gold medal game on Feb. 22.
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 men's hockey tournament promises to be an exciting event with NHL players back in action. Fans can look forward to intense competition and thrilling matchups as the teams battle it out for the coveted gold medal.