2026 winter olympics ice hockey
🏒 General Format & Key Facts
Both men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments are part of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Men’s tournament runs Feb 11–22, 2026 with 12 teams in three preliminary groups, followed by single-elimination playoffs and medal games.
Women’s tournament started earlier (from Feb 5) with 10 teams in two groups.
Russia and Belarus are not participating due to IIHF/IOC bans; France took their spots.
NHL players are back at the Olympics for the first time since 2014, boosting global interest.
Traditional hockey nations like Canada, USA, Sweden, Finland are top contenders.
The group stage determines seedings for playoffs, leading to quarterfinals, semis, and the gold medal game on Feb 22.
The women’s tournament has seen dramatic results so far: Team USA scored a historic 5-0 win over Canada, the first time Canada was shut out in Olympic women’s hockey history.
USA and Canada remain favorites, but teams like Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, Japan, Germany, Italy, France are competitive.
Group stage and knockout matches continue, leading up to medal games on Feb 19.
Olympic ice hockey brings together the world’s best players under national flags. NHL stars like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby are featured.
The Games draw huge global TV audiences and passionate fan support.
This summary reflects current tournament progress and major developments from the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics as of early February 2026. For live scores and updated results, official Olympic sites and sports news outlets offer real-time coverage.
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