2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Schedule: Check key dates, matchups, venues and NHL stars to watch out for

The ice hockey action in Milan is spread across nearly the entire duration of the Games. The women's tournament officially kicked off the competition on February 5, 2026, and will conclude with the gold medal game on February 19. Meanwhile, the men’s tournament begins on Wednesday, February 11, with preliminary rounds running through February 15. Fans can look forward to high-stakes qualification playoffs on February 17, followed by the quarterfinals on February 18, and the semifinals on February 20. The entire event culminates on the final day of the Olympics, February 22, with the men's gold medal game scheduled for 8:10 AM ET.

2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Groups: Men’s Tournament Standings

The men's competition features 12 nations divided into three highly competitive groups for the opening round-robin phase. Group A is headlined by Canada and Czechia, alongside Switzerland and France. Group B features the host nation Italy, competing against hockey giants Finland, Sweden, and Slovakia. Finally, Group C showcases a fierce rivalry between the United States and Germany, joined by Latvia and Denmark. The top finisher from each group, along with the best second-place team overall, will receive a direct bye to the quarterfinals, while the remaining eight teams must fight through a qualification round.

Men’s Tournament Preliminary Round (February 11 – 15)

The men’s group stages kick off today with a heavy focus on Group B. As reported by NHL.com, the schedule for the opening days includes:

• Wednesday, February 11: Slovakia vs. Finland (10:40 AM ET) and Sweden vs. Italy (3:10 PM ET).
  
• Thursday, February 12: A massive slate featuring Switzerland vs. France, the highly anticipated Czechia vs. Canada (10:40 AM ET), and the United States vs. Latvia (3:10 PM ET).
  
• Friday, February 13: Key matchups include Finland vs. Sweden and Canada vs. Switzerland.
  
• Saturday, February 14: Action continues with Sweden vs. Slovakia and the USA vs. Denmark.
  
• Sunday, February 15: The preliminary round concludes with high-stakes games like Canada vs. France and the USA vs. Germany.
  

Men’s Knockout Stage (February 17 – 22)

Following the round-robin, the tournament shifts to a single-elimination format:

• Tuesday, February 17: Four Qualification Playoff matches will determine which lower-seeded teams join the top seeds in the final eight.
  
• Wednesday, February 18: The Quarterfinals will take place throughout the day across both the Santagiulia and Rho arenas.
  
• Friday, February 20: The two Semifinal matchups are scheduled for 10:40 AM ET and 3:10 PM ET.
  
• Saturday, February 21: The Bronze Medal Game will be held at 2:40 PM ET.
  
• Sunday, February 22: The tournament reaches its climax with the Gold Medal Game at 8:10 AM ET, just hours before the Closing Ceremony.
  

Women’s Tournament Finals (February 13 – 19)

As the women's preliminary round wraps up, the focus shifts to the medal chase:

• February 13 – 14: The Quarterfinal matches are played to narrow the field to the final four.
  
• Monday, February 16: Both Semifinal games will be held to decide the gold medal contenders.
  
• Thursday, February 19: The women’s event concludes with the Bronze Medal Game in the morning followed by the Gold Medal Game later that afternoon.

Venues and Locations for 2026 Olympic Ice Hockey

All ice hockey matches for the 2026 Games are being staged in Milan, Italy, across two primary arenas. The main hub is the brand-new Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, a state-of-the-art facility with a seating capacity of 14,000 designed specifically for this event. This venue will host the majority of high-profile matchups, including the semifinals and all medal games. The Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena serves as the secondary venue, hosting several preliminary round games for both the men’s and women’s tournaments to ensure the heavy schedule is accommodated.

NHL Stars and Teams to Watch in Milano Cortina

The biggest headline of the 2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey tournament is the participation of NHL stars, bringing best-on-best competition back to the global stage. Team USA is led by captain Auston Matthews, supported by alternate captains Matthew Tkachuk and Charlie McAvoy. Team Canada remains a slight favorite for gold, boasting a legendary core that includes veterans like Sidney Crosby and superstars like Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Other notable players to watch include David Pastrnak for Czechia, Leon Draisaitl for Germany, and William Nylander for Sweden, all of whom are expected to make their nations serious medal contenders.