For the first time in 12 years, NHL players will be representing their countries at the Winter Olympics. True best-on-best hockey is back, folks.
Two Blue Jackets made their respective national teams. Defenseman Zach Werenski will lead the American blue line, along with Quinn Hughes of the Minnesota Wild. He’s had a Norris-caliber season with 20 goals and 62 points in 52 games so far. He’ll open the tournament against goaltender Elvis Merzlikins, who’s red hot with a .925 SV% and 2.03 GAA in six games since Rick Bowness took over as head coach, including a 24-save shutout in his last game Tuesday. The Jackets sent off both players with a post-game ceremony on Wednesday.
Format
The 12 teams in the men’s tournament have been divided into three groups of four. The United States is in Group C with Denmark, Germany, and Latvia. Finland, Slovakia, and Sweden will join hosts Italy in Group B, while Group A will consist of Canada, Czechia, France, and Switzerland.
After all groups complete a full round-robin, all 12 teams will move on to the single-elimination knockout phase, with the three group winners and highest-ranking runner up receiving byes to the Quarterfinals. The group stage uses the (superior) 3-2-1-0 points model, and in shootouts five rounds are guaranteed instead of three, and after those five rounds teams can repeat shooters as much as they wish.
Schedule
The Round Robin phase will run from Wednesday, February 11th through Sunday, February 15th, with the Americans and Group C playing on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. All of Team USA’s group stage games will appropriately be broadcast on USA Network, with 3PM puck drops. If that seems early, remember that Italy is six hours ahead of the east coast, meaning that these are 9PM starts locally.
United States vs Latvia
Thursday, February 12, 2026 – 3:00 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network, Peacock
United States vs Denmark
Saturday, February 14, 2026 – 3:00 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network, Peacock
United States vs Germany
Sunday, February 15, 2026 – 3:00 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network, Peacock
For those interested in the full schedule… here you go!
Group Stage
| Wed Feb 11 | Thu Feb 12 | Fri Feb 13 | Sat Feb 14 | Sun Feb 15 |
| Slovakia vs Finland, 10:30 AM, USA Network | Switzerland vs France, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Finland vs Sweden, 6:00 AM, USA Network | Sweden vs Slovakia, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Switzerland vs Czechia, 6:00 AM, CNBC |
| Sweden vs Italy, 3:00 PM, USA Network | Czechia vs Canada, 10:30 AM, USA Network | Italy vs Slovakia, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Germany vs Latvia, 6:00 AM, CNBC | Canada vs France, 10:30 AM, USA Network |
| Latvia vs USA, 3:00 PM, USA Network | France vs Czechia, 10:30 AM, Peacock | Finland vs Italy, 10:30 AM, USA Network | Denmark vs Latvia, 3:00 PM, CNBC | |
| Germany vs Denmark, 3:00 PM, Peacock | Canada vs Switzerland, 3:00 PM, Peacock | USA vs Denmark, 3:00 PM, USA Network | USA vs Germany, 3:00 PM, USA Network |
Knockout Stage
| Tue Feb 17 | Wed Feb 18 | Fri Feb 20 | Sat Feb 21 | Sun Feb 22 |
| France vs Germany, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Germany vs Slovakia, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Finland vs Canada, 10:30 AM, USA Network | Bronze Medal Game, 2:30 PM, USA Network | Gold Medal Game, 8:00 AM, NBC |
| Italy vs Switzerland, 6:00 AM, Peacock | Czechia vs Canada, 10:30 AM, USA Network | Slovakia vs USA, 3:00 PM, NBC | ||
| Denmark vs Czechia, 10:30 AM, Peacock | Switzerland vs Finland, Noon, USA Network | |||
| Latvia vs Sweden, 3:00 PM, USA Network | Sweden vs USA, 3:00 PM, NBC | . |
Women’s Tournament
While we wait for the men’s tournament to begin, the women’s tournament is already underway! The main storyline so far is the battle against Noravirus; an outbreak within the Finnish team led to the opening game against Canada Wednesday night being postponed, while the Swiss team had to miss the Opening Ceremony to quarantine after a case on their roster. Nonetheless, the tournament moves on.
The women’s tournament is under a slightly different format to maintain competitive balance; the top five teams play a round robin for seeding, all already qualified for the Knockout Stage. They’ll be joined by the top three finishers in Group B, made of the next four best countries and host Italy.
Through Saturday’s action, Team USA is already 2-0-0-0 in Milan, beating Czechia 5-1 on Thursday and Finland 5-0 this afternoon. Their remaining group stage games are Monday and Tuesday afternoons, both on USA Network. Pending a major upset, they will likely play Canada in the Gold Medal Game on Thursday, February 19th.
United States Women vs Switzerland
Monday, February 9, 2026 – 2:30 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network, Peacock
United States Women vs Canada
Tuesday, February 10, 2026 – 2:00 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network, Peacock
Women’s Gold Medal Game
United States Women vs Canada
Thursday, February 19, 2026 – 1:00 PM ET
PalaItalia Santa Giulia – Milan, Italy
TV: USA Network
While there’s obviously no Blue Jackets in the women’s tournament, Columbus is well represented thanks to Ohio State players and alumni. Junior Joy Dunne will join alumni Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka on Team USA. Canada leads the tournament with four OSU products thanks to Jenn Gardiner, Sophie Jaques, Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner. Three current Buckeyes will play for team Sweden (Mira Jungåker, Jenna Raunio, and Hilda Svensson), freshman Sanni Vanhanen will represent Finland, and alumni Andrea Braendli will protect Switzerland’s net.