After nearly a year of Olympic qualifiers that began last December, with 30 teams competing across three rounds of play, came to a conclusion today for the final three spots in Milan, with the spots being clinched locked up by Latvia, Denmark and Slovakia for the 2026 Olympics, in a carbon copy clinching scenario from three years earlier.

In Rīga, for the second time in four years, it was again winner take all between hosts Latvia and France, who dispatched Slovenia and Ukraine earlier in the tournament. But unlike the narrow 2-1 victory in 2021, this time Les Bleus were thrashed out of competition in a 5-2 loss. Kristiāns Rubīns led the way with a goal and two points, and five different goal scorers led the potent Latvian offence which outshot France 36-19. Despite giving up the opening goal just 21 seconds in, once Latvia tied it the result was never really in doubt, with Arēna Rīga celebrating their heroes’ return to the games. This marks Latvia’s sixth Olympics in the past seven games, and second straight, looking to recapture the magic of their 2023 Bronze medal run in Milan and improve on their all-time best finish of eighth in 2014.

Meanwhile, in Aalborg, in another 2022 qualification rematch, it was winner take all between hosts Norway and Denmark. And after it was Denmark that upset Norway 2-0 in Oslo four years ago, it appeared Norway was going to return the favour in 2024, with Mats Zuccarello scoring just 26 seconds in, and Norway holding a 1-0 lead through 20 minutes. But it was a pair of Nicklas Jensen goals in the second, and the stellar goaltending of Frederik Andersen, that tilted the scales in favour of the Lions. A late Patrick Russell goal in the third period, and an empty netter, sealed the 4-1 win for Denmark, despite being outshot 31-20 by Norway, marking Denmark’s second straight, and second ever, Olympic tournament. Great Britain and Japan finished in third and fourth in the group, respectively.

And finally, in Bratislava, it was the hosts meeting with Kazakhstan in a winner-take-all finale, with the result never in doubt from the jump. Róbert Lantoši and Pavol Regenda struck in the first period, and Adam Liška iced the game in the second period, with Slovakia cruising to a 3-1 victory. Samuel Hlavaj turned away 27 of Kazakhstan’s 28 shots, only conceding to Nikita Mikhailis late in the second period, with Hlavaj surviving the 15-7 outshooting at the hands of the Bisons in the third period. Slovakia won the group and clinched their ninth straight Olympics since the split of Czechoslovakia with three straight wins, locking up the spot with wins over Kazakhstan, Austria and Hungary.

With the final three teams qualified, the groupings for 2026 are now almost clear, with the outstanding question being on Russia’s potential involvement. Group A was already established with Canada, Sweden, Switzerland and hosts Italy; Group B now sees Denmark join defending champions Finland, Czechia and Germany; and Group C sees Slovakia and Latvia join the United States and potentially Russia, depending on the IOC’s ultimate decision.

If Russia is removed from the tournament, the above groups will all undergo a shift depending on rankings, with the next best-ranked second place team (in this case, France) likely to join the qualified teams, re-ranked as part of the IIHF’s serpentine system. With the last few pieces now in place, it is nearly full steam ahead to February 2026 in Milan!

Photo Credit: Ishockeylandsholdene – IIHF – Hockey Slovakia – IIHF – HHOF – IOC