Ice Hockey at Milano Cortina 2026

NHL Players Are Back, and That Changes Everything

After the NHL sat out the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and returned for Beijing 2022 (only to have many teams decimated by COVID protocols), Milano Cortina 2026 represents the first fully unrestricted, uncompromised best-on-best Olympic ice hockey tournament since Sochi 2014. The NHL has formally committed to a full pause in its season, and every eligible star will be available. For hockey fans, this is the tournament they’ve been waiting a decade for.

Ice hockey at Milano Cortina 2026 takes place at two venues: the men’s and women’s gold-medal games at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan (capacity ~12,000), and preliminary round games at the Palavela and PalaItalia Santa Giulia, also in Milan. The urban setting means fans won’t need to trek to mountain venues — the hockey tournament is entirely a city affair.

Tournament Format

Both the men’s (12 teams) and women’s (10 teams) tournaments follow group-stage-to-knockout formats. In the men’s event, 12 teams are divided into three groups of four for round-robin play, after which the top teams advance to a single-elimination quarterfinal, semifinal, and gold-medal game. Games that are tied after regulation go to overtime and then a shootout in the group stage, and to continuous overtime in the elimination rounds.

The pace of Olympic hockey on international-sized ice (which is wider than NHL rinks) changes the game substantially. There’s more space for skilled playmakers, more time to create in transition, and defensive systems must cover significantly more ice. Teams that adapt quickly to the bigger surface gain a real advantage.

The Men’s Favorites

Canada, as always, enters with staggering depth. Their roster could field two or three teams that would medal. Connor McDavid, the consensus best player in the world, has never played in an Olympic tournament, and his ability to exploit the wider international ice surface could be devastating.

The United States fields a young, fast squad built around Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, and a deep pool of defensemen. The Americans haven’t won Olympic hockey gold since the Miracle on Ice in 1980, and while they’ve been competitive, getting past Canada in a single-elimination game remains the ultimate hurdle.

Finland is the defending Olympic champion and should not be underestimated. Sweden, Russia (competing as neutral athletes if allowed), and the Czech Republic round out the contenders.

The Women’s Game Has Never Been Better

The women’s tournament has grown exponentially in quality. The U.S. and Canada have dominated for decades — they’ve played each other in every Olympic gold-medal game since 1998 — but the gap is narrowing. Finland, Czechia, and Switzerland have all produced results that suggest the duopoly could crack.

The U.S. women’s team, led by Hilary Knight and a deep roster of players from the PWHL (Professional Women’s Hockey League), enters as the defending gold medalist after their 2022 triumph and will face a Canadian team hungry for revenge. Knight, now 36, is pursuing her fifth Olympic Games and a fitting capstone to the most decorated career in U.S. women’s hockey history.

What to Watch For

Olympic hockey is about goaltending. In a short tournament format, a hot goalie can single-handedly carry a team to gold. Watch the early group-stage games to see which goalies are tracking the puck well and controlling rebounds — they’ll be the difference-makers in the medal rounds.

Also, coaching adjustments between periods are amplified in international play. Teams have less practice time together than NHL squads, so the coaches who simplify systems and empower their stars tend to win.

Athletes to Watch

Connor McDavid (CAN, Men’s Tournament) — Widely regarded as the best hockey player on the planet, McDavid’s first Olympic appearance is one of the most anticipated storylines at the entire Games.

Auston Matthews (USA, Men’s Tournament) — The American-born goal-scoring phenom brings NHL MVP-caliber play to Team USA and will be tasked with leading the Americans’ push for their first gold since 1980.

Hilary Knight (USA, Women’s Tournament) — The most prolific scorer in U.S. women’s hockey history enters her fifth Olympics as a veteran leader and still one of the most dangerous offensive players in the international game.

Marie-Philip Poulin (CAN, Women’s Tournament) — Known as ‘Captain Clutch’ for her habit of scoring decisive Olympic goals, Poulin is the heart of the Canadian women’s team and one of the greatest big-game players in hockey history.

Aleksander Barkov (FIN, Men’s Tournament) — The Finnish captain and reigning Selke Trophy winner brings elite two-way play and leadership to the defending Olympic champions.

Venue Spotlight

The Mediolanum Forum in Milan serves as the primary hockey venue, hosting the marquee games including both gold-medal finals. The 12,000-seat arena is a modern, well-equipped facility located in the Assago suburb of Milan with excellent transit connections. Preliminary games are spread across additional Milan venues, giving the hockey tournament an entirely urban character unique among Olympic winter sports.