The IIHF today released the schedule for the men’s tournament at the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy, with the tournament beginning on Wednesday, 11 February, with defending champions Finland starting their title defence in the opening match, in the first tournament since 2014 to feature NHL players on Olympic rosters.

The tournament will follow the same format as the past three Games, being condensed to a five day preliminary round, and expanding to four games per day, with the exception of opening day. The tournament begins with Finland vs. Slovakia and hosts Italy vs. Sweden from Group B, while Group A opens the following day with France (a late addition to replace Russia, who remains suspended from competition by the IOC) vs. Switzerland and Canada vs. Czechia, while Group C will also commence on 12 February with the United States vs. Latvia and Denmark vs. Germany.

This tournament should have much more fanfare than the past two games, if only for the fact that NHL players will be returning for the first time since Sochi 2014, marking the sixth time in Olympic history that the NHL season will stop for the Olympics. Finland, who are defending champions but have not won Gold in a “best on best” Olympics since play began in 1998, will look to upend against Canada, looking to win three straight Golds (after 2010 and 2014) and four of five in “best on best” play, while other previous champs Sweden and Czechia, along with other contenders from the likes of the United States and Switzerland, will look to take advantage having the top professionals in the world on their roster.

The tournament schedule, with the majority of games to be played at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena (unless denoted otherwise), is as follows:

With the Americans winning their first World Championship in nearly a century this past May, they will be likeliest to carry the IHLC into Italy, whether to start the tournament against Latvia or as part of a pre-Olympic exhibition tuneup, but the IHLC will likely not see any action with NHL stars until at least the new year of 2026. However, once the title makes its way to Milan, whether it stays in Group C or otherwise, it will be in for quite a ride in the leadup to the Gold Medal Game!

* Game to be held at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena

Photo Credit: Dezeen – IIHF – HHOF – IOC