The schedule for men’s and women’s ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics has been released, less than a year before the event. The U.S. men’s team will play in Group C against Denmark, Germany, and Latvia, with quarterfinals starting on February 17 and the gold medal game on February 22. Meanwhile, the U.S. women’s team is in Group A, competing with Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, and Switzerland. Their group stage runs from February 5 to February 10, followed by quarterfinals on February 13 and the gold medal match on February 19.
The U.S. men’s matches include games versus Latvia on February 12, Denmark on February 14, and Germany on February 15. Key players like forwards Jack Eichel, Matty Beniers, Brady Tkachuk, and defensemen Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy will headline the roster. This Olympic season marks the first time in 12 years that NHL players will participate, with Russia still banned from competing due to the invasion of Ukraine. Finland, last Olympics’ gold medal winner, took bronze this time, while the U.S. and Canada were both eliminated in the quarterfinals.
The U.S. women’s schedule features games against the Czech Republic (February 5), Finland (February 7), Switzerland (February 9), and Canada (February 10). The highly anticipated U.S.-Canada matchup recalls their 2022 gold medal clash in Beijing, where Canada narrowly beat the U.S. 3-2, with Amanda Kessel scoring the winning goal late in the game. Canada has dominated the Winter Olympics women’s hockey scene, winning five of the last six gold medals, though the U.S. broke through to win in 2018.
Fan Take: This announcement is thrilling for hockey fans as NHL players returning to the Olympics promise a higher level of competition and excitement. The U.S. and Canada’s ongoing rivalry in women’s hockey, coupled with the inclusion of top NHL talents in the men’s competition, could elevate the sport’s global appeal and intensity like never before.
