Olympic Hockey Schedule — Full Roster of 2026 Games

The 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament officially begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with the preliminary rounds, and it's shaping up to be an intense run of games between 12 teams.

What makes the 2026 Olympics stand of is that it brings the return of NHL players, who haven't participated since the 2014 Olympics and are eager to get back in front of the world.

"It gives me shivers," Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brandon Hagel told reporters of competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics. He'll be representing Canada on the ice. "Being able to play for the flag is a dream come true. I never would have thought about it in a million years, and now, obviously, I get the opportunity."

Hagel added, "People believed in me to give me a chance to go try and win gold, play for the country, and to play for that flag on the front of the chest means the world to me."

2026 Olympic Men's Hockey Groups

It's worth noting that due to the time-zone difference, those watching games live in North American can expect to see them in the early morning or afternoon.

This year, teams will compete in a group format before going to the final contests. The two teams that win in the knockout round will play for the gold medal. The teams that lose in the semifinals will go head-to-head in a consolation matchup for the bronze medal.

The 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament is divided into three groups. Group A includes Canada, Czechia, Switzerland and France. Group B features Italy, Finland, Sweden and Slovakia. Finally, Group C has the United States, Latvia, Germany and Denmark.

The last time NHL players competed in the Games back in 2014, Canada won gold, according to ESPN research. The most recent gold winner is Finland, and they're looking for back-to-back gold medals. Sweden is expected to be a challenge for Finland this year, though, due to their roster depth. The last time the United States won the gold medal was back in 1980, so a win would be huge for the U.S.

Olympic Men's Hockey Schedule for 2026

The 2026 Olympic men's hockey tournament officially starts on Feb. 11, according to the Olympics' official website. A three-tier scoring system will be used for the group stage. The playoff and medal rounds start on Feb. 17, and the gold medal game is scheduled for Feb. 22. Make some coffee for these games, because some start as early as 6:10 a.m. Eastern time.

Group A Schedule (Eastern Time)

Switzerland vs. France – Feb 12. at 6:10 a.m.
Czechia vs. Canada – Feb 12. at 10:40 a.m.

France vs. Czechia – Feb 13 at 10:40 a.m.
Canada vs. Switzerland – Feb. 13 at 3:10 p.m.

Switzerland vs. Czechia – Feb. 15 at 6:10 a.m.
Canada vs. France – Feb 15 at 10:40 a.m.

Group B Schedule (Eastern Time)

Slovakia vs. Finland – Feb. 11 at 10:40 a.m.
Sweden vs. Italy – Feb. 11 at 3:10 p.m.

Finland vs. Sweden – Feb 13. at 6:10 a.m.
Italy vs. Slovakia – Feb. 13 at 6:10 a.m.

Sweden vs. Slovakia – Feb. 14 at 6:10 a.m.
Finland vs. Italy – Feb. 14 at 10:40 a.m.

Group C Schedule (Eastern Time)

Latvia vs. United States – Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m.
Germany vs. Denmark – Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m.

Germany vs. Latvia – Feb. 14 at 6:10 a.m.
United States vs. Denmark – Feb. 14 at 3:10 p.m.

Denmark vs. Latvia – Feb. 15 at 1:10 p.m.
United States vs. Germany – Feb. 15 at 3:10 p.m.