The Olympic Winter Games are back and best-on-best hockey is going to be one of the most-watched events of the month at Milano Cortina 2026.

It’s been over a decade since the National Hockey League’s top players competed for an Olympic medal, and with players like Sidney Crosby returning to represent Canada in his third Olympic Games since 2010, anticipation is at an all-time high.

In 2026, he’ll share the bench with the newest generation of talent on the world’s stage like 19-year old San Jose Sharks 2024 1st overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini.

Women’s hockey preliminary rounds begin first, with Sweden and Germany taking the ice with a 6:10 a.m. ET puck drop on Thursday, Feb. 5.

Also on Thursday morning, Team USA women’s hockey opens Group A play against Czechia, with Canada taking on Finland immediately folllowing.

Here’s the full schedule for the 2026 Winter Olympics, including Team USA and Canada. Follow along on FloHockey throughout the Olympics for the latest coverage, live updates, and news.

Olympic Hockey Schedule 2026: Here’s When Canada, Team USA Play

All times Eastern.

Thursday, Feb. 5

Women’s Group B

Sweden vs Germany | 6:10 a.m.Italy vs France | 8:40 a.m.

Women’s Group A

United States vs Czcehia | 10:40 a.m.Finland vs Canada | 3:10 p.m.Friday, Feb. 6

Women’s Group B

France vs Japan | 6:10 a.m.

Women’s Group A

Czechia vs Switzerland | 8:40 a.m.Saturday, Feb. 7

Women’s Group B

Germany vs Japan | 6:10 a.m.Sweden vs Italy | 8:40 a.m.

Women’s Group A

United States vs Finland | 10:40 a.m.Switzerland vs Canada | 3:10 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 8

Women’s Group B

France vs Sweden | 10:40 a.m.

Women’s Group A

Czechia vs Finland | 3:10 p.m.Monday, Feb. 9

Women’s Group B

Japan vs Italy | 6:10 a.m.Germany vs France | 10:40 a.m.

Women’s Group A

Switzerland vs United States | 2:40 p.m.Canada vs Czechia | 3:10 p.m.Tuesday, Feb. 10

Women’s Group B

Japan vs Sweden | 6:10 a.m.Wednesday, Feb. 11

Men’s Group B

Slovakia vs. Finland | 10:40 a.m.Sweden vs. Italy | 3:10 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 12

Men’s Group A

Switzerland vs. France | 6:10 a.m.Czechia vs. Canada | 10:40 a.m.

Men’s Group C

Latvia vs. USA | 3:10 p.m.Germany vs. Denmark | 3:10 p.m.Friday, Feb. 13

Men’s Group B

Finland vs. Sweden | 6:10 a.m.Italy vs. Slovakia | 6:10 a.m.

Men’s Group A

France vs. Czechia | 10:40 a.m.Canada vs. Switzerland | 3:10 p.m.

Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups

TBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 14

Men’s Group B

Sweden vs. Slovakia | 6:10 a.m.Finland vs. Italy | 10:40 a.m.

Men’s Group C

Germany vs. Latvia | 6:10 a.m.USA vs. Denmark | 3:10 p.m.

Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups

TBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 15

Men’s Group A

Switzerland vs. Czechia | 6:10 a.m.Canada vs. France | 10:40 a.m.

Men’s Group C

USA vs. Germany | 3:10 p.m.Denmark vs. Latvia | 3:10 p.m.Monday, Feb. 16Women’s Semifinal MatchupsTBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Tuesday, Feb. 17Men’s Qualification playoff matchupsTBD | 6:10 a.m.TBD | 6:10 a.m.TBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Wednesday, Feb. 18Men’s Quarterfinal matchupsTBD | 6:10 a.m.TBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 12:10 p.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Thursday, Feb. 19Women’s Bronze medal game | 8:40 a.m.Women’s Gold medal game | 1:10 p.m.Friday, Feb. 20Men’s Semifinal matchupsTBD | 10:40 a.m.TBD | 3:10 p.m.Saturday, Feb. 21Men’s Bronze medal game | 2:40 p.m.Sunday, Feb. 22Men’s Gold medal game | 8:10 a.m.When Does The NHL Season Pause For The Winter Olympics 2026

The National Hockey League (NHL) 2025-26 season will take a pause after the conclusion of games on Thursday, February 5th, through Wednesday, February 25.

The break will accommodate the 2026 Winter Olympic hockey games, scheduled from February 11-22 in Italy. Here are some more important dates for the upcoming NHL season.

Key Dates For The 2025-26 NHL SeasonFebruary 5 – Last games before break February 11-22 – 2026 Winter OlympicsFebruary 25 – Games return from breakApril 16 – Last regular season gamesApril – Start of 2026 Stanley Cup PlayoffsJune – 2026 Stanley Cup FinalsWhen and Where Are The Winter Olympics – Milano Cortina 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics, known as Milano Cortina 2026, is scheduled to take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026. 

Preliminary hockey rounds will begin on Thursday, February 5. Competition will continue throughout the week and conclude with the women’s gold medal match on Thursday, February 19. The men’s gold medal match will be played on Sunday, February 22 at Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The 2026 Winter Olympic Games will take place at multiple sites across Lombardy and Northeast Italy. Ice events will be hosted in Milan and other events to be hosted around Cortina and in the Valtellina and Fiemme valleys across Italy.

The joint-host were selected in 2019 and are the first Olympic Games to be co-hosted by multiple cities.

Who Won The Stanley Cup Playoffs In 2025?

The Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025. The defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the best-of-seven series 4-2.

Who was the first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft?

The first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft was made by the New York Islanders, who picked Matthew Schaefer, an elite defenseman with expert puck movement skills.

Other Overall Top Picks In 2025

Matthew Schaefer (D) – New York IslandersMichael Misa (C) – San Jose SharksAnton Frondell (C) – Chicago BlackhawksCaleb Desnoyers (C) – Utah MammothBrady Martin (C) – Nashville PredatorsPorter Martone (RW) – Philadelphia FlyersJames Hagens (C) – Boston BruinsJake O’Brien (C) – Seattle KrakenRadim Mrtka (D) – Buffalo SabresRoger McQueen (C) – Anaheim DucksWhen is the 2026 NHL Draft?

The 64th annual NHL Entry Draft is expected to be held in the summer of 2026. In 2025, it was held on June 27 and 28.

NHL Prospect Coverage On FloHockey

The best, and most complete, coverage of the NHL minor league hockey and NHL Draft is found on FloHockey. Don’t miss the latest new prospect guides, rankings and more from Chris Peters and the FloHockey staff.

Watch the AHL, ECHL, QMJHL, USHL, And More On FloHockey

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