Hockey sobre hielo en las Olimpiadas de Invierno 2026

When the United States defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime on February 22, 2026, it ended a 46-year gold drought and crowned Team USA champions of the Milano Cortina 2026 men’s ice hockey tournament. This article covers the gold-medal result, full tournament schedule, participating teams, and broadcast information.

Gold medal: United States (third Olympic title) ·
Teams (men’s): 12 ·
Venue: Milano Santagiulia Arena ·
NHL players: First participation since 2014

The table below summarizes key facts about the men’s ice hockey tournament.

Will there be ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics?

Yes, ice hockey is a core sport in the Winter Olympics program. Both men’s and women’s tournaments were held as part of the Milano Cortina 2026 games. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF official schedule page) confirmed the men’s tournament schedule, marking the first Olympic men’s hockey event with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games (NHL.com).

Official confirmation of the tournament

The International Olympic Committee included ice hockey in the official sports program for Milano Cortina 2026. The men’s tournament ran from February 11 to February 22, 2026, while the women’s tournament started earlier, on February 5 (NHL.com).

History of ice hockey at the Winter Olympics

Ice hockey has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1924 (men’s) and 1998 (women’s). Canada leads the all-time men’s gold medal count, but the United States’ victory in 2026 added a third gold to its tally, breaking Canada’s hold on the top step of the podium.

“The men’s ice hockey tournament at Milano Cortina 2026 will feature NHL players for the first time since 2014.” – NHL.com

The implication: The return of NHL players raised the overall quality of competition and gave fans a true best-on-best tournament.

Who won the gold medal in ice hockey at the 2026 Olympics?

The United States men’s national team defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime in the gold medal game on February 22, 2026, at the Milano Santagiulia Arena (USA Hockey official site). The victory marked the third Olympic gold medal for the United States in men’s ice hockey.

Gold medal game result

After a tightly contested regulation period tied 1-1, Team USA scored in overtime to secure the win. Canada settled for silver, while Finland defeated Slovakia 6-1 in the bronze medal game on February 21 (NHL.com). The gold medal game was listed as an OT final in ESPN’s results module.

Summary of the gold medal match

Neither team dominated in shots on goal, but clutch goaltending and a decisive overtime strike gave the United States its first gold since 1980. The win snapped a 46-year gold drought for American men’s hockey.

“Team USA defeated Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the gold medal at Milano Cortina 2026.” – USA Hockey

Why this matters: For the United States, the victory ends a long wait and signals a shift in international hockey power.

How many countries participated in ice hockey at the 2026 Olympics?

The men’s tournament featured 12 teams, split into three preliminary groups of four (NHL.com). The women’s tournament also had 8 teams, though detailed results for the women’s event are not covered in the main sources.

List of participating countries (men’s)

• United States
• Canada
• Finland
• Slovakia
• Sweden
• Czechia
• Switzerland
• France
• Latvia
• Denmark
• Germany
• Italy (host)

The specific preliminary-round matchups included USA vs. Latvia, Denmark, and Germany; Canada vs. Czechia, Switzerland, and France (NHL.com).

The pattern: A format that ensures all teams get a playoff shot can dilute the drama of group-stage elimination, but it also guarantees every match carries seeding significance.

Ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics: where to watch

Broadcast rights varied by region. In the United States, USA Hockey listed Peacock as the primary streaming platform, with USA Network televising preliminary-round games. For international audiences, Olympics.com and the IIHF provided live streams and highlights.

Streaming platforms and TV channels

• United States: Peacock (streaming), USA Network (TV)
• Canada: CBC Sports, TSN
• Europe: Eurosport, Discovery+
• Global: Olympics.com official streaming

Specific game times were based on Central European Time (CET), with the gold medal game starting at 2:40 p.m. CET (NHL.com).

Game times and scheduling

The semifinals took place on February 20, the bronze medal game on February 21 at 2:40 p.m. ET, and the gold medal game on February 22 at the same time slot.

What this means: Viewers across time zones could plan around a consistent afternoon start for the medal games, making it easier to watch live.

What is the schedule for ice hockey at the 2026 Olympics?

The men’s tournament schedule ran from February 11 to February 22, 2026. Here are the key dates:

• February 11: Preliminary round begins (NHL.com)
• February 20: Semifinals (NHL.com)
• February 21: Bronze medal game – Finland 6, Slovakia 1 (NHL.com)
• February 22: Gold medal game – USA 2, Canada 1 OT (USA Hockey)

The women’s tournament started on February 5, but specific dates for the women’s medal rounds were not covered in the primary sources reviewed.

Phase groups and elimination rounds

All 12 men’s teams advanced from the preliminary round to a single-elimination bracket, ensuring every team had a path to the medal round. The format encouraged competitive play from the opening faceoff.

For audiences in North America, the choice is straightforward: subscribe to Peacock or tune into USA Network to catch future Olympic hockey. For European viewers, Eurosport and Discovery+ remain the go-to platforms for live coverage of international tournaments.

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