The stage is set.
It’s USA vs Canada men’s ice hockey for the gold medal at 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Both teams are undefeated heading into the final on Sunday, Feb. 22.
USA took care of Slovakia in a blowout in the semi-final on Friday, Feb. 20 while Canada had a tougher go. Canada needed to rally from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Finland, 3-2. Nathan MacKinnon scored the winning goal with 35 seconds remaining in regulation.
USA won the first USA vs Canada battle of the Olympics on Thursday, Feb. 20. The USA women’s ice hockey defeated Canada in overtime on Megan Keller’s winning tally.
USA will play Canada on Sunday, Feb. 20 in the Olympic gold-medal game at 8:10 a.m. (ET) in Milan, Italy.
Canada captain Sidney Crosby was injured in a win over Czechia on Wednesday, Feb. 18 in the second period. Crosby missed the remainder of the game with a lower-body injury and did not play in Friday’s semifinal win over Finland. ESPN reported that Sidney Crosby underwent an MRI and ESPN reported that he was seen in a walking boot.
Crosby has scored 2 goals and 4 assists in this Olympics.
“He has a better chance of playing that than he did of playing today,” said Canada coach Jon Cooper following the win over Finland on Friday.
1 Jeremy Swayman, G
2 Jackson LaCombe, D
8 Zach Werenski, D
9 Jack Eichel, F
10 J.T. Miller, F
12 Matt Boldy, F
14 Brock Faber, D
15 Noah Hanifin, D
16 Vincent Trocheck, F
19 Matthew Tkachuk, F
21 Dylan Larkin, F
29 Brock Nelson, F
34 Auston Matthews, F
37 Connor Hellebuyck, G
43 Quinn Hughes, D
59 Jake Guentzel, F
72 Tage Thompson, F
74 Jaccob Slavin, D
81 Kyle Connor, F
85 Jake Sanderson, D
86 Jack Hughes, F
91 Clayton Keller, F
No. 6 Travis Sanheim, D
No. 7 Devon Toews, D
No. 8 Cale Makar, D
No. 9 Sam Bennett, F
No. 10 Nick Suzuki, F
No. 13 Sam Reinhart, F
No. 14 Bo Horvat, F
No. 17 Macklin Celebrini, F
No. 20 Thomas Harley, D
No. 24 Seth Jarvis, F
No. 27 Shea Theodore, D
No. 29 Nathan MacKinnon, F
No. 35 Darcy Kuemper, G
No. 38 Brandon Hagel, F
No. 43 Tom Wilson, F
No. 44 Josh Morrissey, D
No. 48 Logan Thompson, G
No. 50 Jordan Binnington, G
No. 55 Colton Parayko, D
No. 61 Mark Stone, F
No. 63 Brad Marchand, F
No. 87 Sidney Crosby, F
No. 89 Drew Doughty, D
No. 93 Mitch Marner, F
No. 97 Connor McDavid, F
It’s been an unforgettable Olympics for the Hughes family.
Mom Ellen Weinberg-Hughes helped the USA women’s hockey team win gold as an advisor. She played for Team USA in 1992 in the IIHF World Championships. Her sons, Jack and Quinn, were in attendance for the women’s thrilling win over Canada.
The brothers have had stellar Olympics for the USA men. Quinn Hughes scored the winning goal in overtime against Sweden in the quarterfinals. Jack Hughes scored two goals in the semifinals against Slovakia. Quinn is a defenseman for the Minnesota Wild and Jack is a forward for the New Jersey Devils.
The Hughes aren’t the only pair of brothers for Team USA. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk set a physical tone and bring a gritty play style to Team USA. They’re the sons of former 18-year NHL veteran Keith Tkachuk.
Keith Tkachuk grew up in Medford, Mass., and played high school hockey at Malden Catholic. He played for one season at Boston University. He played for Team USA in four Olympics.
Brady Tkachuk plays left wing for the Ottawa Senators. Matthew Tkachuk plays for the Florida Panthers and has won consecutive Stanley Cups.
Johnny Gaudreau’s USA No. 13 jersey hangs in the team’s locker room during the Olympics. On Aug. 29, 2024, Johnny and his brother Matthew Gaudreau were riding bicycles when they were hit and killed by a drunk driver. Johnny Gaudreau, who was nicknamed ‘Johnny Hockey’, was an NHL All-Star with the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jacks. He died at the age of 31.
His family was in the crowd cheering on USA on Friday. Johnny Gaudreau never played in the Olympics, but had a lot of international experience for Team USA. Matthew Gaudreau, who died at 29, played five years of minor league hockey and was coach on the rise. Both brothers played at Boston College.
The US men have won gold twice – 1960 and 1980. The ‘Miracle on Ice’ team is the last USA squad to claim gold. That famed victory over the Soviet Union in the semifinals happened on Feb. 22, 1980. The date of Sunday’s final vs. Canada – Feb. 22, 2026.
The USA men’s ice hockey won its last meeting against Canada. That occurred in the group stage in 2022. USA defeated Canada, 4-2, in the group stage, but both sides didn’t medal. Finland took gold.
The teams last met in the gold-medal game in 2010. Canada won 3-2 in overtime as Sidney Crosby scored the winning goal.
Canada has had the edge over USA in Olympic play. USA has won just 4 of the 19 meetings. USA has lost 10 games in regulation, 2 in overtime and tied in the other 3 matchups.
Canada opens as a slight favorite heading into Sunday’s game.
Odds from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Tage Thompson scored a goal in USA’s 6-2 win over Slovakia on Friday. But he didn’t join the team in the bench for the third period. The NBC broadcast stated it was for precautionary reasons. Thompson status looms large for Sunday, literally. At 6-6, 220 pounds he’s the biggest skater on the team.
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