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Ice hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics: How it works, competition schedule

Ice hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics: How it works, competition schedule

MILAN — The Canadian women's national hockey team has won gold at five of the last sixWinter Olympics, but the U.S. women's national hockey team has all the momentum heading into the2026 Milano Cortina Games.

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TheU.S. women swept Canada in the 2025 Rivalry Series, something neither team has done in the tournament's six-year history. The Americans dominated and outscored the Canadians 24-7 throughout the tournament's four-game slate, led by five goals fromHilary Knight,who is set to appear in her fifth and final Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the U.S. men are looking to end a 46-year gold-medal drought. The Americans should get a boost from the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since the 2014 Sochi Games.

Here's what you need to know about ice hockey at these Games.

Auston Matthews wears the USA's jersey that will be worn at the 2026 Olympics. A closer look at the jerseys that will be worn by the men's, women's and Paralympic teams. The front of the blue jersey. The front of the white jersey A closeup of the stripes on the blue jersey. A slogan inside the collar of the blue jersey. A closeup of the front of the white jersey <p style=Stripes on the back of the white jersey

" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Brady Tkachuk Quinn Hughes Hilary Knight Taylor Heisse Declan Farmer

US hockey jerseys unveiled for 2026 Olympics

When did ice hockey become a Winter Olympic sport?

Men's ice hockey dates back to the 1920 Summer Olympics, before it was transferred to the Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, in 1924. The women's event was added to the program at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

How does Olympic ice hockey work?

Just like the NHL but with wider rinks, Olympic ice hockey pits two teams against each other in each game, and whichever team scores the most goals wins. During a hockey match, each team has a goalie plus five skaters (usually two defensemen and three forwards) on the ice, with substitutions sometimes coming as often as every 30 seconds. An ice hockey game normally lasts 60 minutes, divided into three periods of 20 minutes each, and will move to an overtime and then a shootout to break a tie.

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  • Men's ice hockey: Maximum of 25 players: 22 skaters and 3 goaltenders

  • Women's ice hockey: Maximum of 23 players: 20 skaters and 3 goaltenders

Hockey player Hilary Knight of the United States poses for a photo during a Team USA Photo Shoot at Sunset Glenoaks Studios on May 20, 2025 in Sun Valley, Calif. Knight has won NCAA, Olympic and World championships. Hilary Knight of the Wisconsin Badgers gets the puck past Johanna Ellison #1 of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs to score a goal in the second period on March 20, 2009 during the NCAA WomenÕs Frozen Four at Agganis Arena in Boston, Mass. Hilary Knight of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates her goal against the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on March 20, 2009 during the NCAA WomenÕs Frozen Four at Agganis Arena in Boston, Mass. Jessie Vetter #30, Jasmine Giles #12, Erika Lawler, Hilary Knight (bottom right) and the rest of the Wisconsin Badgers pose with the championship trophy after they defeated the Mercyhurst Lakers on March 22, 2009 during the NCAA Women's Frozen Four Championship game at Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. The Wisconsin Badgers shut out the Mercyhurst Lakers 5-0. USA's Hilary Knight (21) controls the puck against Sweden's Frida Nevalainen (3) during the women's semifinal of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 22, 2010. USA forward Hilary Knight celebrates her shootout goal against Canada in an exhibition hockey game at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. on Dec 28, 2013. USA defeated Canada 3-2 in a shootout. Team USA women's hockey forward Hilary Knight poses at a portrait session during the Team USA Media Summit at Canyons Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah on Oct. 2, 2013. USA forward Hilary Knight (21) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal against Switzerland in a women's preliminary round women's ice hockey game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Shayba Arena on Feb. 10, 2014. Team USA hockey player Hilary Knight poses for a photo during the 2018 U.S. Olympic Summit at Grand Summit Hotel in Park City, Utah on Sep. 25, 2017. United States forward Hilary Knight (21) scores a goal against Canada in the women's ice hockey gold medal match during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre on Feb. 21, 2018 in Gangneung, South Korea. United States forward Hilary Knight (21) deflects the puck past Canada goaltender Shannon Szabados (1) for a goal during the first period in the women's ice hockey gold medal match during the Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic Winter Games at Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung, South Korea on Feb. 22, 2018. USA's Kendall Coyne (L) and Hilary Knight hold their gold medals and the US flag after the medal ceremony after the women's ice hockey event during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangneung on February 22, 2018. USA forward Hilary Knight skates against Canada during the third period of a Rivalry Series women's hockey game at Leon's Centre on Nov. 21, 2021 in Kingston, Ontario. Team United States forward Hilary Knight (21) dives for a puck in front of Team Canada defender Claire Thompson (42) in the second period of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Wukesong Sports Centre on Feb. 8, 2022. (L-R) Jincy Dunne #19, Megan Keller #5, Amanda Kessel #28, Jesse Compher #18, Abbey Murphy #37, Megan Bozek #9, Hilary Knight #21, Dani Cameranesi #24, Hayley Scamurra #16, Savannah Harmon #15 and their Team United States teammates huddle together at their net before the Group A Women's Preliminary Round ice hockey match between Team United States and Team Canada at Wukesong Sports Centre on Feb. 8, 2022 in Beijing, China. Hilary Knight #21 of Team United States puts her own rebound into the net for a shorthanded goal against Ann-Renee Desbiens #35 of Team Canada in the second period during the Women's Ice Hockey Gold Medal match between Team Canada and Team United States on Day 13 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at Wukesong Sports Centre on Feb. 17, 2022 in Beijing, China. USA forward Hilary Knight (21) advances the puck against Canada during the third period at Climate Pledge Arena on Nov. 20, 2022 in Seattle, Wash. USA defeated Canada 4-2. USA captain Hilary Knight (12) stands in the middle of her team mates as they sing the national anthem after winning the gold medal match over Canada at CAA Center on April 16, 2023 in Brampton, Ontario. USA forward Hilary Knight (21) celebrates with forward Alex Carpenter (25) after scoring a goal against Canada in the third period at CAA Center on April 16, 2023 in Brampton, Ontario. USA's Hilary Knight stays focused at the Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, NY on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Team King forward Hilary Knight (21) goes to shoot the puck as Team Kloss defender Erin Ambrose (23)defends during the PWHL 3-on-3 Showcase during NHL All-Star Thursday at Scotiabank Arena on Feb. 1, 2024 inToronto, Ontario. Boston forward Hilary Knight walks onto the ice before a PWHL ice hockey gam against Minnesota at the Tsongas Center on Jan. 3, 2024 in Lowell, Mass. Boston forward Hilary Knight skates onto the ice before a PWHL ice hockey game against Minnesota at the Tsongas Center on Jan. 3, 2024 in Lowell, Mass. (L-R) Taylor Girard, Hilary Knight, Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, Lexie Adzija and Taylor Heise attend the 2024 ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre on July 11, 2024 in Hollywood, Calif. Hilary Knight of the U.S. celebrates with the trophy after winning the Gold Medal Game against Canada at the IIHF Women's World Championships in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic on April 20, 2025. Hilary Knight of Boston Fleet celebrates with fans after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Frost during the third period at Tsongas Center on Feb. 16, 2025 in Lowell, Mass. The Fleet defeat the Frost 4-2. Hilary Knight of Boston Fleet looks on during the third period of the game against the Minnesota Frost at Tsongas Center on Feb. 16, 2025 in Lowell, Mass. The Fleet defeat the Frost 4-2. Hilary Knight, captain of Team USA ice hockey and of the new PWHL expansion team in Seattle, throws the ceremonial first pitch before the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Milwaukee Brewers at T-Mobile Park on July 23, 2025 in Seattle, Wash.

USA Hockey veteran Hilary Knight heads to Milan‑Cortina as team leader

Top Team USA athletes

  • Hilary Knight: The five-time Olympian has a gold and three silver medals Olympic medals to her name. Knight has 10 gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship, the most of any player, and holds records for all-time goals, points and assists. Knight, 36, said Milano Cortina will be her last Games.

  • Kendall Coyne Schofield: The three-time Olympian has won a gold and two silver medals, in addition to seven gold medals at the IIHF Women's World Championship. She welcomed son Drew in July 2023.

  • Matthew Tkachuk: Tkachuk led the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025. He won silver with Team USA at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, alongside his brother Brady Tkachuk, an Ottawa Senators left winger.

  • Auston Matthews: The Toronto Maple Leafs forward is set to make his Olympic debut after dominating the NHL, where he's won rookie of the Year, MVP, most outstanding player and scored the most goals in the league four times. Matthews won silver with Team USA at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.

What's the international landscape in Olympic ice hockey?

The American and Canadian women each have seven Olympic medals, but Canada has the edge with five gold medals, compared to the United State's two. The Canadian men also have the most Olympic medals with sixteen overall and nine golds. The Soviet Union won nine medals overall and seven golds before dissolving in 1991.

Olympics hockey schedule

Women's tournament

  • Feb. 5-10: Preliminary rounds

  • Feb. 13-14: Quarterfinals

  • Feb. 16: Semifinals

  • Feb. 19: Gold medal game; bronze medal game

Men's tournament

  • Feb. 11-15: Preliminary rounds

  • Feb. 17: Playoff qualification

  • Feb. 18: Quarterfinals

  • Feb. 20: Semifinals

  • Feb. 21: Bronze medal game

  • Feb. 22: Gold medal game

Contributing: Ellen Horrow

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Ice hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics: How it works, what to know

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