Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 Preview: Ice Hockey

Ice hockey at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 will be played across two venues: the new Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena as the main venue and Milano Rho for selected preliminary matches, particularly in the women’s tournament.

The state-of-the-art Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, located in the Santa Giulia district, will host ice hockey for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Milano Cortina 2026 and accommodate up to 16,000 spectators for the finals. Built specifically for the Games, the arena will later be converted into a multi-purpose hub for sport and live entertainment, leaving a major legacy in Milan’s redeveloped southeast district.



Ice hockey made its Olympic debut at the 1920 Summer Games, where the tournament also doubled as the first World Championship. The men’s competition moved permanently to the Winter Olympics in 1924, while the women’s event was introduced in 1998.


Played by two teams of five skaters and a goalie, ice hockey is a fast-paced sport contested over three 20-minute periods. Teams score by shooting the puck into the opponent’s net, with play governed by face-offs, offside and icing rules and penalties for infractions such as tripping or fighting.

Seeking a return to the podium after a 16-year medal drought, Team USA brings a rich ice hockey tradition and fierce rivalries. Most iconic is the “Miracle on Ice,” when the United States stunned the heavily favored Soviet Union — four-time defending champions — at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid.



Men: The U.S. men’s ice hockey team has won 11 medals across 21 Olympic Winter Games appearances since debuting in 1920, when it earned the sport’s first medal (silver) in Antwerp. Overall, the U.S. has claimed two gold, eight silver, and one bronze medal, with its most recent podium finish coming at the 2010 Vancouver Games (silver). Following a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the team aims to return to the podium in Italy.





Women:
The U.S. women’s Olympic ice hockey team has competed in every Winter Games since the sport’s debut in 1998 and has medaled at all seven appearances. The team won gold at the inaugural tournament in Nagano and again in 2018, and has also earned four silver medals (2002, 2010, 2014, 2022) and one bronze (2006).



The U.S. men’s squad is stacked with NHL firepower, led by Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, and Brady Tkachuk. On defense, Charlie McAvoy anchors the blue line, complemented by the dynamic puck-moving abilities of Quinn Hughes. With an expected balance of experience, leadership, and youth, Team USA’s men will be aiming for their first Olympic Winter Games gold since 1980.


Hilary Knight is the veteran leader and face of U.S. women’s hockey, set to compete in a record fifth Olympic Winter Games. A dominant scorer and captain with two decades on the national team, Knight debuted at the Olympic Winter Games in 2010 and endured gold-medal losses to Canada in 2010 and 2014 before capturing gold in 2018. She has announced this will be her final time competing in Olympic Winter Games, though not her retirement from the sport. If Team USA reaches the podium, Knight would tie the record with five career hockey medals.


Other veteran leaders expected to make an impact include Kendall Coyne Schofield, a three-time Olympian and gold medalist known for her speed and leadership; Alex Carpenter, a two-time Olympian and medalist who adds proven scoring and experience; and defense anchors Megan Keller and Cayla Barnes, both two-time Olympians and medalists providing strong two-way play on the blue line. Lastly, rising star Laila Edwards, the 2024 World Championship MVP, brings elite skill and versatility after seamlessly transitioning to defense.


The first puck drops on February 5 with the women’s preliminary round, while the men will start on February 12. The medal matches will take place on:
February 19 (Women’s Bronze and Gold Medal Matches)

February 21 (Men’s Bronze Medal Match)

February 22 (Men’s Gold Medal Match)