Hockey fans enjoyed an appetizer of elite international competition in 2025. Early next year, they’ll get the main course.
The Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics is six months away, and among the biggest storylines entering the Winter Games is the long-awaited return of NHL players to the Olympic stage. The last time NHL players competed in the Olympics was all the way back at the 2014 Sochi Games.
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The 2026 Games will be held a year after the NHL’s highly successful 4 Nations Face-Off, a midseason tournament featuring the United States, Canada, Finland and Sweden. The 4 Nations Face-Off marked the first best-on-best international hockey tournament since the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.
Team USA went 2-1 in 4 Nations round robin play, highlighted by a 3-1 victory over Canada, but the Canadians got revenge over the Americans in the final with a 3-2 overtime win.
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Following a second-place finish in the 4 Nations, the Americans will next head over to Italy looking to snap an Olympic gold medal drought of more than 40 years. From the roster to the schedule and more, here’s what to know about USA men’s hockey at the 2026 Olympics:
Six of Team USA’s roster spots are locked in so far:
Matthews served as Team USA’s captain at the 4 Nations, with McAvoy and Matthew Tkachuk as alternate captains. Eichel and Brady Tkachuk were also part of the 4 Nations squad, while Hughes was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to injury.
The full Olympic roster is expected to be announced by early January, according to USA Hockey. Teams can carry a maximum of 25 players — 22 skaters and three goalies.
Two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach Mike Sullivan will be the leader behind the bench for Team USA. Sullivan, who’s entering his first season as head coach of the New York Rangers, also oversaw the U.S. for the 4 Nations.
The Americans will begin the Olympic tournament in Group C, along with Germany, Latvia and Denmark. Team USA opens play against Latvia on Feb. 12. Here’s the full opening-round schedule:
There are eight other countries who will be vying for gold. Group A features Canada, Switzerland, the Czech Republic and France, and making up Group B is Finland, Sweden, Slovakia and host Italy.
The 2026 Olympic champion will be crowned on Sunday, Feb. 22, via the gold medal game.
Milano Ice Park and Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, both of which are located in Milan, will host the Olympic hockey games.
Following a round robin, the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout stage. The remaining countries then compete in a qualification round for the final two spots in the quarterfinals.
Team USA has medaled in men’s hockey 11 times, most recently earning its eighth silver in 2010. The Americans’ two gold medals came in 1960 and 1980.
The last Olympics featuring NHL players saw the Americans place fourth, as they lost to Canada in the 2014 semifinals before falling to Finland in the bronze medal game. Canada, meanwhile, defeated Sweden to win gold.
Team USA placed fifth at the most recent Winter Games, played in Beijing in 2022.
The 2025-26 NHL season will have a 19-day Olympic break in February.