Olympic Hockey Schedule 2026: Women’s Tournament Runs Feb. 5–19, Men’s Tournament Feb. 11–22, With Sidney Crosby and Canada Opening Feb. 12

Olympic ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Games is built around two staggered tournaments in Milan: the women play first and award medals on Thursday, February 19, 2026 ET, while the men start mid-Games and finish with gold on Sunday, February 22, 2026 ET. That split matters for fans because it creates two distinct peaks of drama instead of one long overlap, and it keeps the biggest medal games in clean, easy-to-follow windows.

On the men’s side, the headline is that NHL players are back in the Olympics and Canada’s roster includes Sidney Crosby, giving the tournament a familiar anchor and a major leadership storyline as the bracket tightens.

Women’s Olympic hockey schedule 2026: key dates and marquee game times

Women’s tournament dates: Thursday, February 5 through Thursday, February 19, 2026 ET.

The women’s event begins before the Opening Ceremony and moves quickly through group play into a high-volume knockout stretch. The marquee rivalry game arrives early, and the medal day is set for February 19.

Notable women’s dates in ET:

• Thu, Feb 5: Tournament begins (multiple group games throughout the day)

• Sat, Feb 7: USA vs Finland at 10:40 AM ET

• Tue, Feb 10: Canada vs USA at 2:10 PM ET

• Thu, Feb 12: Finland vs Canada at 8:30 AM ET (rescheduled after illness-related postponement)

• Fri, Feb 13 to Sat, Feb 14: Quarterfinals

• Mon, Feb 16: Semifinals

• Thu, Feb 19: Medal games

  • Bronze medal game: 8:40 AM ET

  • Gold medal game: 1:10 PM ET

Behind the headline: why the women’s calendar feels intense
Because the knockout rounds cluster tightly, one overtime game can spill fatigue into the next. Depth, special teams, and goalie form tend to decide the last four, and the quick turnaround makes “starting fast” more than a cliché.

Men’s Olympic hockey schedule 2026: when the bracket starts and when medals are decided

Men’s tournament dates: Wednesday, February 11 through Sunday, February 22, 2026 ET.

The men’s event starts later, then accelerates into elimination hockey during the second week. The most important thing for casual fans is simply this: once the knockout phase begins, every game is a story, and the schedule is designed to keep meaningful games on most days until the final weekend.

Notable men’s dates in ET:

• Wed, Feb 11: Men’s tournament begins

• Thu, Feb 12: Canada opens men’s play (Crosby’s tournament begins with Canada’s first game)

• Tue, Feb 17 to Wed, Feb 18: Knockout rounds begin

• Fri, Feb 20: Semifinals (two games)

• Sat, Feb 21: Bronze medal game at 2:40 PM ET

• Sun, Feb 22: Gold medal game at 8:10 AM ET

Marquee men’s group-stage examples for USA and Canada in ET:

• Thu, Feb 12: Latvia vs USA

• Sat, Feb 14: USA vs Denmark

• Sun, Feb 15: USA vs Germany

• Thu, Feb 12: Czech Republic vs Canada

• Fri, Feb 13: Switzerland vs Canada

• Sun, Feb 15: Canada vs France

Sidney Crosby at the 2026 Olympics: why his timing matters

Crosby’s presence changes the men’s tournament in two practical ways. First, it raises the floor for Canada’s game management in tight finishes where discipline and decision-making win. Second, it concentrates attention on Canada’s early group games because fans know the bracket can punish a slow start. Even if a top team advances, seeding can decide whether you draw a tougher opponent earlier than expected.

What to watch next: schedule-driven storylines that decide medals

1. Upset danger in the first elimination round
   Trigger: a contender runs into a hot goalie and a low-event game that stays 1–1 late.

2. Special teams swing the women’s semis
   Trigger: fatigue tightens spacing and the power play becomes the cleanest path to offense.

3. Seeding drama in the men’s group finale window
   Trigger: teams prioritize bracket position, not just qualification, which changes lineup choices.

4. Canada’s chemistry test
   Trigger: star-heavy rosters can look unbeatable or disjointed early; the schedule gives little time to “figure it out” once elimination starts.

5. Illness and recovery management
   Trigger: even one disrupted day can reshape practice time, energy, and competitive rhythm during a compressed tournament.

If you tell me which team you’re following in men’s and women’s hockey, I can list every one of their game dates and start times in ET in a simple, scroll-friendly lineup.