Overview

• The men’s hockey tournament opens Feb. 11, 2026, in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo with a round-robin stage to determine the quarterfinalists.
• NHL players will compete at the Olympics for the first time since 2014 after disputes and pandemic scheduling kept them out in 2018 and 2022.
• Teams have named six initial players on their preliminary rosters, headlined by stars such as Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel and the Tkachuk brothers.
• Russia remains barred under IOC sanctions and was replaced by France in the 12-team field, with the United States drawn alongside Germany, Latvia and Denmark.
• The IIHF set the gold-medal game for Feb. 22, 2026, and full Olympic rosters will be finalized in early January 2026.