Men’s hockey is set to take center stage at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and for the first time in over a decade, NHL talent will once again be part of the Olympic spotlight.
The 12-team tournament runs February 11–22, 2026, featuring three preliminary pools, a qualification playoff round, and a single-elimination medal bracket, all played in Italy.
Below is your full breakdown of the groups and schedule (EST) so you can plan your viewing window now.
Tournament Format
- 12 teams, split into three groups (A, B, C)
- Each team plays three preliminary games
- Group winners + best second-place team earn automatic quarterfinal byes
- Remaining eight teams enter a qualification playoff
- Winners advance to quarterfinals → semifinals → medal games
Olympic Men’s Hockey Pools
Group A
- Canada
- Switzerland
- Czechia
- France
Group B
- Finland
- Sweden
- Slovakia
- Italy
Group C
- United States
- Germany
- Latvia
- Denmark
Group Stage Schedule
Wednesday, Feb. 11
- 10:40 AM — Slovakia vs Finland (Group B)
- 3:10 PM — Sweden vs Italy (Group B)
Thursday, Feb. 12
- 6:10 AM — Switzerland vs France (Group A)
- 10:40 AM — Czechia vs Canada (Group A)
- 3:10 PM — Latvia vs USA (Group C)
- 3:10 PM — Germany vs Denmark (Group C)
Friday, Feb. 13
- 6:10 AM — Finland vs Sweden (Group B)
- 6:10 AM — Italy vs Slovakia (Group B)
- 10:40 AM — France vs Czechia (Group A)
- 3:10 PM — Canada vs Switzerland (Group A)
Saturday, Feb. 14
- 6:10 AM — Sweden vs Slovakia (Group B)
- 6:10 AM — Germany vs Latvia (Group C)
- 10:40 AM — Finland vs Italy (Group B)
- 3:10 PM — USA vs Denmark (Group C)
Sunday, Feb. 15
- 6:10 AM — Switzerland vs Czechia (Group A)
- 10:40 AM — Canada vs France (Group A)
- 1:10 PM — Denmark vs Latvia (Group C)
- 3:10 PM — USA vs Germany (Group C)
Playoff Round
Tuesday, Feb. 17 — Play In Round
- 6:10 AM — Game 1
- 6:10 AM — Game 2
- 10:40 AM — Game 3
- 3:10 PM — Game 4
Wednesday, Feb. 18 — Quarterfinals
- 10:40 AM
- 1:00 PM
- 3:10 PM
- 6:00 PM
Friday, Feb. 20 — Semifinals
Afternoon / early evening windows (exact pairings TBD)
Saturday, Feb. 21
Bronze Medal Game (TBD)
Sunday, Feb. 22
Gold Medal Game (approximately 2:10 PM)
All Times Eastern Standard Time
All games are available on the NBCUniversal family of networks and streaming on Peacock
Final Thoughts Before Puck Drop
With NHL players returning to Olympic ice, Milano Cortina 2026 has all the makings of a classic international showdown. Early morning puck drops will be common for East Coast viewers, but marquee matchups — including Team USA and Canada — also feature several afternoon windows.
If you’re building your February sports calendar, this is one tournament you won’t want to miss.
