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Jake Mozarsky
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In 1980, a group of college kids in Lake Placid performed a “Miracle on Ice” that ignited a hockey revolution across the United States, inspiring a generation of children to trade their baseball mitts for skates. Now, 46 years later, that legacy has culminated in a roster widely considered the greatest in American history.
Starting Thursday, Team USA steps onto the ice in Milan for its 2026 Olympic opener against Latvia, the first of three matchups in Group A. The mission is clear: finally bridge the nearly half-century gap since Lake Placid and secure gold on foreign soil.
STREAM: Watch USA vs. Latvia LIVE on Peacock
Team USA carries not only a long Olympic drought but also recent heartbreak. Before arriving in Milan, this group faced its first major test at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off in Boston and Montreal. It was the first “best-on-best” international tournament in nearly a decade, and the U.S. came up a goal short of gold as Connor McDavid scored the overtime winner to give rival Canada the title on U.S. soil. Now, 21 of those 25 players return to the squad in Milan looking for revenge.
Led by captain Auston Matthews, the most prolific American goal scorer in modern history, this roster features a rare blend of star power and grit, anchored by the disruptive Tkachuk brothers, Matthew and Brady. The blue line is headlined by Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes and supported by a mobile defensive unit that many consider the deepest ever assembled for Team USA. Between the pipes, the Americans boast an embarrassment of riches, with reigning Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck leading a trio of world-class goaltenders.
The talent is there. Now, it’s time for Team USA to deliver results.
The quest for gold starts Thursday against Latvia. Follow along for updates as the Stars and Stripes take the ice for Game 1.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer's guide | Day-by-day schedule
2:48 p.m.: We’re getting closer and closer.
The U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team’s #WinterOlympics campaign starts today. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/wjRoCId4Hl
Puck drop is less than 30 minutes away.
2:38 p.m.: It’s official, Latvia’s starting goalie is Elvis Merzļikins.
The 31-year-old Columbus Blue Jackets veteran gets the nod for Latvia’s Olympic opener, marking a long-awaited career milestone. Despite stiff competition from Artūrs Šilovs — the hero of Latvia’s 2023 World Championship bronze medal run —head coach Harijs Vītoliņš is betting on Merzļikins’ recent NHL form. Elvis enters the tournament on a hot streak, having won five of his last six starts in Columbus, including a 24-save shutout just before the Olympic break.
🇱🇻 Elvis Merzlikins has been named Latvia’s starting goaltender for their opening game of the Olympics against the United States
He beat out Arturs Silovs for the starting spot. pic.twitter.com/K5OAfI6jfX
It’s a poetic start to the tournament for Merzļikins, as he’ll be staring down his NHL teammate and close friend Zach Werenski, one of the anchors on the American blueline. For a Latvian team that historically thrives on underdog moxie, they’ll need tostymie a U.S. offense led by Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel.
2:20 p.m.: The starting lines are out for Team USA’s first Olympic game.
First looks at how Team USA is lining up at the #WinterOlympics 👀
See ya in one hour for puck drop! pic.twitter.com/LCOLJiCyqA
The Tkachuk brothers, Brady and Matthew, are centered by Jack Eichel on the top line. Behind them is a line of three prolific goal scorers, centered by Auston Matthews.
Defensively, it’s a lot of the same faces from the Four Nations, with one major change: Quinn Hughes, one of the NHL’s top defensemen. After an oblique injury sidelined him during the 4 Nations Face-Off last February, the former Norris Trophy winner is making his highly anticipated Olympic debut. His arrival is a massive upgrade for an already elite blueline, especially given his recent trade from Vancouver to the Minnesota Wild.
2:00 p.m.: The U.S. enters the tournament as the second favorite to win behind Canada, who beat Czechia 5-0 in its opening game.
The U.S. Men’s Hockey team will open its Olympic campaign today, with NHL Players participating in the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014 💪
USA is just behind Canada as favorites to win the gold medal. The USA Men’s Hockey team has not won an Olympic Medal outside… pic.twitter.com/BmlGZxbv2p
Of course, these teams have history, whether the Four Nations Faceoff from last year or the 2010 gold medal game, where Sidney Crosby scored a golden goal winner.
1:33 p.m.: Let’s revisit the last time the U.S. won gold, the Miracle on Ice.
It remains the most iconic moment in American sports history — a literal “David vs. Goliath” story that transcended the rink. In 1980, the Soviet Union arrived at the Lake Placid Games as a professional juggernaut, having won the previous four Olympic gold medals and recently dismantling the NHL All-Stars 6-0. By contrast, the U.S. squad was a collection of college kids led by the disciplinarian Herb Brooks, who spent months molding them into a unit fast enough to compete with the international style.
1980 Olympic Hockey – USA vs. USSR
“Miracle on Ice”. The moment that made a nation believe in miracles. pic.twitter.com/Ip8E3qZpez
On Feb. 22, the two worlds collided in the medal round. After trailing early and entering the third period down 3-2, the Americans scored twice in the final ten minutes — first from Mark Johnson and then the legendary go-ahead goal by captain Mike Eruzione. As the final seconds ticked away and Al Michaels delivered his famous “Do you believe in miracles?” call, the U.S. secured a 4-3 victory. Two days later, they defeated Finland to clinch the gold, marking the last time the American men stood atop the Olympic podium.
1:20 p.m.: On the other side, Latvia has one of the most talked about players in the tournament in Alberts Šmits.
Standing 6-foot-3 and weighing over 200 pounds, Šmits is currently the youngest player in the men’s hockey tournament. He is a high-profile prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft, where he is projected to be a top pick. Before joining the Olympic squad in Italy, he led the Latvian team at the World Junior Championship in Minnesota, where he led the team in ice time.
Alberts Smits sera à surveiller avec la Lettonie! 🇱🇻 pic.twitter.com/HqLQGGUaTx
Despite his age, he’s already playing professionally in the Finnish Liiga for Jukurit, and Latvian veterans — including goalie Kristers Gudļevskis — have praised his “calm confidence” on the ice.
12:50 p.m.: In goal for the stars and stripes: two-time reigning Vezina winner Connor Hellebuyck.
It’s Hellebuyck’s net tonight! 🇺🇸 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/cL8OCa32qj
12:45 p.m.: Team USA is on-site in Milan.
Rolling into game one in style 😎 🇺🇸 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/l0AOTQoFM6
Puck drop is less than three hours away.
12:10 p.m.: The day has finally come, with Team USA opening up its Olympic campaign against Latvia at 3:10 p.m.
After all the buildup, team bonding and soaking in the #WinterOlympics experience, the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team is ready to turn the page and get down to business starting today at 3:10 p.m. ET against Latvia.
Feature story: https://t.co/fJrasn23ZW pic.twitter.com/fdLGXb0ZVk
The Americans look to bring home gold for the first time since 1980, and it starts with three Group C games.
The United States starts its Olympic campaign on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m. ET from the Milano Santagiulia IHO arena.
The USA vs. Latvia preliminary round matchup will be broadcast nationally on NBC in the United States and on CBC in Canada. The game will also be live streamed on Peacock.
The top four teams (the three group winners plus the best second-place team) receive a bye. The remaining eight teams play in the Qualification Round.
Gemini said
As requested, here is the complete 2026 Men’s Olympic hockey schedule with the knockout stage table formatted without bold text.
Jake Mozarsky joined The Sporting News as an Editorial Intern in August 2025 after earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University. He has previously written for Marquee Sports Network, Chicago This Week, Inside NU and The Daily Northwestern.