Olympic hockey 2026 was the first tournament in twelve years to feature NHL players. In February the best squads since Sochi 2014 gathered in Milan, and the tournament turned out exactly as intended: close scores, matches saved late on and a USA-Canada final that was decided in overtime. Eight months on, with the NHL already into a new season, we look back at the results, the heroes and what the men’s and women’s tournaments will be remembered for.
NHL at the 2026 Olympics: why the tournament was twelve years in the making
The league missed two Olympics in a row. In 2018 NHL players did not go to Pyeongchang: the sides could not agree on insurance, travel costs and marketing rights. In 2022 participation in Beijing had already been agreed, but the pandemic wrecked the calendar. On 2 February 2024 the NHL, the players’ union, the IIHF and the IOC announced that NHL players would be at the Olympics in both 2026 and 2030, when the Games will be hosted by the French Alps.
Olympic hockey 2026 teams: which countries took part
The men’s tournament ran from 11 to 22 February at two Milan venues — Santa Giulia and the exhibition centre in Rho. The twelve teams were split into three groups:
- Group A — Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France;
- Group B — Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Italy;
- Group C — USA, Germany, Denmark, Latvia.
The group winners and the best second-placed team went straight to the quarter-finals, while the other eight played a qualification round. Canada and the USA came through the group stage unbeaten, and Slovakia surprisingly finished first in Group B after beating Finland 4-1.
2026 Olympic hockey: Russia not admitted
There was no Russia team in Milan. In June 2025 the IIHF, at the IOC’s request, upheld the suspension of the Russian team in force since 2022, and its place in the tournament went to France.
Olympic hockey 2026 results: the play-offs
- Qualification: Germany 5-1 France, Switzerland 3-0 Italy, Czechia 3-2 Denmark, Sweden 5-1 Latvia.
- Quarter-finals: Canada 4-3 Czechia OT, USA 2-1 Sweden OT, Finland 3-2 Switzerland OT, Slovakia 6-2 Germany.
- Semi-finals: Canada 3-2 Finland, USA 6-2 Slovakia.
- Bronze-medal match: Finland 6-1 Slovakia.
- Final: USA 2-1 Canada OT.
Canada: two matches saved in a row
The Canadians won all three group games — against Czechia, Switzerland and France — and took the top seed. It got harder from there. In the quarter-final against Czechia they were trailing late in the third period, Nick Suzuki equalised with 3:27 left on the clock, and Mitch Marner scored the winner in overtime — 4-3. In the semi-final Finland, the reigning Olympic champions, led 2-0 in the second period, but Canada replied with three goals in a row, and Nathan MacKinnon won it on the power play with 35.2 seconds left in regulation.
USA: overtime against Sweden and a rout of Slovakia
The Americans saw off Sweden in the quarter-final — 2-1 in overtime. Mika Zibanejad equalised a little over a minute before the end of the third period, but in extra time the decisive goal was scored by defenceman Quinn Hughes. In the semi-final the USA met Slovakia, the tournament’s biggest surprise, were already 5-0 up during the second period and finished the match 6-2 — Jack Hughes scored twice. Slovakia reached the semi-finals after thrashing Germany in the quarter-finals, while Finland knocked out Switzerland, coming back from 0-2 to win 3-2 in overtime.
Who won men’s Olympic hockey 2026: the USA-Canada final, 2-1 OT
The final of the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament took place on 22 February at the Santa Giulia arena — exactly 46 years after the ‘Miracle on Ice’, the American college team’s win over the USSR in Lake Placid. Matt Boldy opened the scoring in the sixth minute, Cale Makar equalised with 1:44 left in the second period. Canada pressed for almost the whole match and outshot their opponents 42 to 28, but the American goaltender Connor Hellebuyck saved 41 shots, including a Connor McDavid breakaway and a chance for Macklin Celebrini, while MacKinnon hit the post in the third period. In three-on-three overtime Jack Hughes scored at 1:41.
For the USA this is their third Olympic gold in men’s hockey, their first since 1980 and their first final since Vancouver 2010. Canada, who have more Olympic medals in the men’s tournament than anyone — 17 — took their first medal since bronze in Pyeongchang and achieved their best result since gold in Sochi.
USA national hockey team roster at the 2026 Olympics
The Americans brought 25 players from 18 NHL clubs to Milan: 14 forwards, eight defencemen and three goaltenders. The head coach was Mike Sullivan, the man in charge of the New York Rangers, who won two Stanley Cups in a row with Pittsburgh. The captain was Toronto forward Auston Matthews, with Boston defenceman Charlie McAvoy and Florida forward Matthew Tkachuk as alternates.
- Goaltenders: Connor Hellebuyck, Jake Oettinger, Jeremy Swayman.
- Defencemen: Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy, Zach Werenski, Jake Sanderson, Jaccob Slavin, Jackson LaCombe (replaced the injured Seth Jones) and others.
- Forwards: Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel, brothers Matthew and Brady Tkachuk, Matt Boldy, Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, Tage Thompson and others.
Bronze-medal match: bronze for Finland
On 21 February Finland thrashed Slovakia 6-1. Erik Haula scored twice, Joel Armia recorded 1+2, and in the third period the Finns scored four goals, two of them into an empty net. It is becoming a tradition: at the last three Olympics with NHL players — 2010, 2014 and 2026 — Finland have always finished on the third step of the podium. For the Finnish men’s team this is their eighth Olympic medal and their fifth bronze.
Olympic hockey 2026 stats: McDavid and the other heroes of the tournament
The journalists voted Connor McDavid the most valuable player. McDavid’s stats were record-breaking: 13 points (2+11) in six matches — more than anyone at an Olympic tournament featuring NHL players. The previous mark of 11 points belonged to Teemu Selänne and Saku Koivu, who set it in Turin in 2006. McDavid broke the record in the semi-final against Finland: his 12th point was an assist on Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal, and his 13th was an assist on MacKinnon’s winner.
The tournament’s top scorers:
- Connor McDavid (Canada) — 13 points (2+11);
- Macklin Celebrini (Canada) — 10 (5+5);
- Lucas Raymond (Sweden) — 9 (1+8);
- Juraj Slafkovský (Slovakia) — 8 (4+4);
- Martin Nečas (Czechia) — 8 (3+5).
The tournament directorate chose the best players by position:
- goaltender — Connor Hellebuyck (USA), the tournament’s best save percentage, 95.62;
- defenceman — Quinn Hughes (USA), 8 points in six matches, more than any other defenceman;
- forward — Connor McDavid (Canada).
The journalists’ all-star team, besides Hellebuyck, Hughes and McDavid, included Cale Makar, Macklin Celebrini and Slovakia’s Juraj Slafkovský — the only representative of a team from outside North America.
Who won women’s Olympic hockey 2026
In the women’s final the same two rivals met. On 19 February the Canadians went ahead in the first minute of the second period after a shorthanded goal by Kristin O’Neill. The Americans pulled their goaltender Erin Frankel, and with 2:04 left Hilary Knight redirected a shot by Laila Edwards. That goal was Knight’s 15th at the Olympics, and the point was her 33rd, both now USA records. At 4:07 of overtime Megan Keller beat a defender and scored backhand — 2-1. For the Americans this is their third Olympic gold after 1998 and 2018.
Bronze went to Switzerland, who beat Sweden 2-1 in overtime. The winning goal at 9:09 of extra time was scored by Alina Müller — the same player who at the age of 15 scored the winner in the bronze-medal match at Sochi 2014 against those same Swedes.
What will remain after Milan
The Olympic hockey in Milan answered the main question that had brought the NHL back to the Games: the best hockey players in national teams make the Olympics the biggest hockey event of the four-year cycle. Two finals between the same pair with the same score and overtime is a rare coincidence, while McDavid’s record and Finland’s bronze streak give reasons to look forward to the next tournament. For now the national teams have dispersed back to their clubs: how the new season in Russia is structured we covered in our piece on the 2026/27 KHL season, and the final season of the NHL’s top scorer in our article on Alexander Ovechkin.
Frequently asked questions about Olympic hockey 2026
Who won Olympic hockey 2026?
The USA: in the final on 22 February they beat Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Jack Hughes scoring the winner. Bronze went to Finland, who thrashed Slovakia 6-1.
What was the score in the USA-Canada hockey final?
2-1 in overtime. In the men’s match Boldy opened the scoring, Makar equalised, and Jack Hughes scored at 1:41 of extra time. The women’s final between the same teams also finished 2-1 in overtime in favour of the USA.
Why was there no Russia team at the 2026 Olympics?
The IIHF, at the IOC’s request, upheld the suspension of the Russian team in force since 2022. Its place in the tournament was taken by France.
Who won MVP of Olympic hockey 2026?
Connor McDavid. The Canadian captain recorded 13 points (2+11) in six matches — a record for Olympic tournaments with NHL players.
Who won women’s Olympic hockey 2026?
The USA: in the final they beat Canada 2-1, with Megan Keller scoring the winner at 4:07 of overtime. Bronze went to Switzerland.
Will NHL players be at the 2030 Olympics?
Yes. The agreement between the NHL, the players’ union, the IIHF and the IOC, announced in February 2024, also covers the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
