The 2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Events: Your Ultimate Guide to Watching the Action

As the world turns its attention to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, ice hockey fans are already buzzing with excitement. With almost 1.2 million tickets sold for both men’s and women’s tournaments, these events are shaping up to be among the most anticipated competitions of the Games.

The Star-Studded Lineups

The return of NHL players to the men’s Olympic tournament for the first time since Sochi 2014 has significantly boosted interest. Team USA will be led by Florida Panthers’ two-time Stanley Cup champion Matthew Tkachuk, alongside New Jersey Devils siblings Luke and Jack Hughes. Canada brings experience with veterans from their Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 championship teams, including Drew Doughty and Sidney Crosby.

The women’s tournament features defending champions Canada as favorites, though they’ll be looking to bounce back after a one-sided defeat to Team USA in last month’s Rivalry Series. With 10 teams competing in the women’s event and 12 in the men’s, the competition promises to be fierce.

Where and When to Watch

The ice hockey events will take place at the Milano Rho and Milano Santagiulia ice hockey arenas, running from Thursday, February 5 through Sunday, February 22. The action kicks off with preliminary round matches on February 5 and culminates with the men’s gold medal match on February 22.

NBCUniversal has exclusive Olympic broadcast rights in the US, with all events streaming on Peacock. Coverage will be distributed across NBC, USA Network, and CNBC’s linear channels. USA Network will broadcast key American team games and most matches leading up to the medal rounds.

Streaming Options for Cord-Cutters

Every ice hockey match will be available to watch live and in full on Peacock in stunning 4K. Live TV streaming platforms like YouTube TV, DirecTV, and Hulu Plus Live TV carry NBC, USA, and NBC Sports Network, ensuring you won’t miss a moment of the action.

Peacock offers two Premium plans: the ad-supported Premium plan at $11 per month and the ad-free Premium Plus plan at $17 per month. With the extensive coverage of the Olympics, these plans offer excellent value for sports fans.

Complete Schedule

Women’s Ice Hockey

February 5

• Sweden vs. Germany: 6:10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• Italy vs. France: 8:40 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• USA vs. Czechia: 10:40 a.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)
• Finland vs. Canada: 12:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 6

• France vs. Japan: 6:10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• Czechia vs. Switzerland: 8:40 a.m. ET (Peacock)

February 7

• Germany vs. Japan: 6:10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• Sweden vs. Italy: 8:40 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• USA vs. Finland: 10:40 a.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)
• Switzerland vs. Canada: 12:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 9

• Switzerland vs. USA: 2:40 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)
• Canada vs. Czechia: 3:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 10

• Canada vs. USA: 2:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 13

• Quarterfinal matches: 10:40 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 14

• Quarterfinal matches: 10:40 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 16

• Semifinals: 10:40 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. ET (Peacock, USA Network)

February 19

• Bronze Medal Game: 8:40 a.m. ET (USA Network)
• Gold Medal Game: 1:10 p.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Men’s Ice Hockey

February 11

• Slovakia vs. Finland: 10:40 a.m. ET (USA Network)
• Sweden vs. Italy: 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network)

February 12

• Switzerland vs. France: 6:10 a.m. ET (Peacock)
• Czechia vs. Canada: 10:40 a.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)
• Latvia vs. USA: 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 13

• Finland vs. Sweden: 6:10 a.m. ET (USA Network)
• Canada vs. Switzerland: 3:10 p.m. ET (Peacock)

February 14

• USA vs. Denmark: 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 15

• Canada vs. France: 10:40 a.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)
• USA vs. Germany: 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 17

• Qualification playoffs: 12:10 p.m., 3:10 p.m., and 8:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 18

• Quarterfinals: 10:40 a.m., 1:10 p.m., 3:10 p.m., and 6:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 20

• Semifinals: 11:50 a.m. and 3:10 p.m. ET (USA Network, Peacock)

February 21

• Bronze Medal Game: 2:40 p.m. ET (USA Network)

February 22

• Gold Medal Game: 8:10 a.m. ET (NBC, Peacock)

Watching from Abroad with a VPN

For those traveling during the Olympics, a VPN can be an invaluable tool for accessing your favorite streaming services. VPNs encrypt your traffic, prevent ISP throttling, and add an extra layer of security when using public Wi-Fi networks. While VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, it’s essential to check the terms of service for your streaming platforms to ensure compliance with their policies.

ExpressVPN is currently our top recommendation for a reliable and secure VPN service. It works across multiple devices and starts at $3.49 per month for a two-year plan. The service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to test it risk-free during the Olympics.

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