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yesterday

NHL Signs Deal to Return Players to 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics

The agreement locks in NHL participation in Italy next February, guaranteeing a continued presence at the 2030 Winter Games

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Mar 28, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; An National Hockey League puck is seen on the ice during warmups prior to a game between the Chicago Blackhawks and the Vegas Golden Knights at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Talia Sprague-Imagn Images/File Photo
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Overview

  • Representatives from the NHL, NHLPA, IIHF and IOC signed the formal agreement on July 2 in Switzerland to confirm player participation in Milano-Cortina.
  • NHL athletes will compete in the men’s hockey tournament from Feb. 11–22, 2026, marking their return after a 12-year absence.
  • The league’s stars were sidelined at PyeongChang 2018 amid cost-sharing disputes and again at Beijing 2022 because of pandemic complications.
  • Twelve nations unveiled preliminary six-player NHL-heavy rosters in June and will finalize full Olympic lineups early in 2026.
  • Commissioner Gary Bettman hailed the collaboration as a win for the sport while IIHF president Luc Tardif called it a “major step forward” for international hockey.