At a Glance
- Hockey will be played from Feb. 5 to Feb. 22, 2026.
- Women’s tournament runs Feb. 5-Feb. 19; men’s Feb. 11-Feb. 22.
- Two venues: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and Milano Rho.
- 12 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams will compete.
- Key NHL stars such as Auston Matthews and Sidney Crosby will return.
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina will feature hockey, a sport that has been part of the Games since 1920. The tournament will begin a day before the opening ceremony and finish on the day of the closing ceremony. With NHL players returning to the ice, the competition is expected to be fierce and exciting for fans worldwide.
Tournament Dates and Structure
The hockey competition will run from Thursday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026. The opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, and the closing ceremony will coincide with the final men’s gold medal match.
- Women’s tournament: Starts Feb. 5, finishes with medal games on Feb. 19.
- Men’s tournament: Starts Feb. 11, finishes with medal games on Feb. 22.
The event is one of the few sports that begins a day before the official opening ceremony, giving fans early access to Olympic competition.
Venues
Two arenas in the Milan Cortina region will host the hockey matches:
- Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena – the primary venue.
- Milano Rho – the secondary venue.
Both arenas feature NHL-sized rinks measuring 70 meters long by 26 meters wide (equivalent to 200 feet long by 85 feet wide). The standardized dimensions ensure consistency with professional play.
Team Composition
The tournament format differs slightly between genders:
- Men’s tournament: 12 teams, each roster capped at 25 players (22 skaters, 3 goaltenders).
- Women’s tournament: 10 teams, each roster capped at 23 players (20 skaters, 3 goaltenders).
Qualification details are not yet finalized, but the inclusion of NHL athletes is a significant change from previous Games.
Key Players to Watch
While full rosters are pending, several high-profile NHL players are slated to compete:
- Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs, Team USA) – returning as a new Olympic debutant.
- Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk (Florida Panthers) – brothers representing Team USA.
- Sidney Crosby (Canada) – his third Olympics after gold medals in 2010 and 2014.
- Connor McDavid (Canada) – first Olympic appearance, known for a game-winning goal in the 2024 4 Nations Face-Off.
- Other notable NHL stars: David Pastrnak (Czechia), Leon Draisaitl (Germany), William Nylander (Sweden), Aleksander Barkov (Finland).
The U.S. and Canada are the expected gold-medal contenders in the men’s tournament, with Canada currently favored. Historically, every women’s gold medal since 1998 has gone to either the U.S. or Canada.
Scoring and Overtime Rules
The Olympic hockey rules mirror NHL regular-season play for most aspects:
- If a preliminary-round game is tied after three 20-minute periods, a sudden-death overtime of up to five minutes is played. The first goal wins.
- In quarterfinals and semifinals, a 10-minute overtime is used, still sudden death.
- If no goal is scored in overtime, a shootout decides the winner. Five alternating shooters from each team take turns; if tied, a tiebreak shoot-out continues with the same or new players.
- For gold and bronze medal games, a 20-minute 3-on-3 period follows a tie after regulation. If still tied, play continues until a winner emerges; no shootout is used.
- Intermissions last 15 minutes, during which the ice is resurfaced.
These rules ensure that every game concludes with a decisive result, whether through play or shootout.
What to Expect
With the return of NHL talent and the historic venues, the 2026 hockey tournament promises high-level competition and memorable moments. Fans can anticipate thrilling matchups, especially between the U.S. and Canada, and the opportunity to witness top players on the Olympic stage for the first time.
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The information presented reflects the current schedule, venues, and rules for the 2026 Winter Olympics hockey competition.
