Ok so let me just say this — the 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament has been absolutly wild so far. Like, I have been glued to my screen for the past week and I don’t think I’m the only one. Whether its the women’s final that went to overtime or the men’s quarterfinals where three out of four games needed extra time, this years hockey at the Milan Cortina Games is delivering drama on a whole another level.
I mean, honestly? I haven’t felt this kind of excitment about Olympic hockey in years. And a big reason for that is after more than a decade, NHL players are back at the Olympics, making the competition feel truly elite again. That changes everything, trust me.
Let me break it all down for you — the women’s gold medal result, what’s happening in the men’s bracket, and why this 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament might be the best one we’ve seen in a very long time.
USA Women Take Gold in a Thriller Nobody Saw Coming
So the big headline from yesterday — Megan Keller scored in overtime to clinch Winter Olympic gold for the United States in a dramatic 2-1 win over great rivals Canada.
If you didn’t watch this game, you seriously missed out. Kristin O’Neill had given the Canadians the lead in the second period, ending the US’s 352-minute streak without conceding a goal. Canada was playing tough and physical, and for most of the match it really looked like they were gonna hold on.
But then with little more than two minutes left on the clock, US captain Hilary Knight scored her 15th career Olympic goal on her final appearance to force sudden-death overtime. The arena literally erupted. I got chills watching it, not gonna lie.
It marks a third Olympic title for the US women’s team and their first since the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. That’s a long wait. And the way they pulled it off — coming from behind in the dying minutes — makes it so much sweeter for Team USA fans. Honestly, this kind of clutch comeback reminds me of how rivalries can flip in a single moment in sport — you just never know.
What makes this 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey rivalry between USA and Canada so special is the history. For decades, Canada had been the top dog of Olympic women’s ice hockey. Since the sport was added to the Winter Games in 1998, Canada has reached the gold medal match all eight times and won five of those.
But this time, the Americans had there number. And I think the 5-0 defeat to the US earlier in the tournament was not only Canada’s worst-ever Olympic loss but the first time they had failed to score in a match at the Winter Games. That prelim game clearly shook Canada’s confidence going into the final.
Also, shoutout to Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin who is still a absolute legend. Poulin broke the all-time women’s Olympic ice hockey goals record in the semi with her 19th marker, which she later extended to 20. Even in defeat, she showed why she’s one of the greatest to ever do it.
Earlier on Thursday, Switzerland beat Sweden 2-1 to win the bronze medal. A nice moment for the Swiss, who have been building there program steadily over the years.
Men’s 2026 Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Semifinals — Its Getting Crazy
Now lets talk about the men’s side, because thats where things are really getting intresting heading into today.
Three out of four quarterfinal matchups in the 2026 Olympic men’s hockey tournament went to overtime. Three! That’s never happend before in Olympic quarterfinal history at the men’s level. The hockey gods were definately showing off this week.
Here’s the semifinal matchups for today:
- Canada vs Finland — 10:40 AM ET
- USA vs Slovakia — 3:10 PM ET
Canada rallied to beat Czechia 4-3 on a Mitch Marner breakaway goal in overtime, while the USA rebounded from a late third-period marker by Sweden to win 2-1 in overtime, courtesy of defenceman Quinn Hughes.
But there’s a massive storyline hanging over Team Canada right now. While the team is still favored to take home gold, it got a lot harder with an injury to team captain and NHL legend Sidney Crosby. Crosby appeared to injure his right leg while attempting to avoid a hit from Czech defenseman Radko Gudas, getting twisted up awkwardly.
Sidney Crosby’s status for the 2026 Winter Olympics hangs in the balance with Team Canada, as fresh reports suggest his semifinal availability remains in serious doubt. I mean, this is Crosby’s third Olympics and he won gold the last two times NHL players participated — Sochi 2014 and Vancouver 2010. Loosing him would be a huge blow.
But Canadas got depth. Superstars like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and others are leading their national teams, making this edition one of the strongest Olympic hockey tournaments in recent history. You can check the full men’s ice hockey tournament schedule on the official Olympics site for all game times.
On the American side, through its first four games of the tournament, the U.S. has been somewhat inconsistent, but the team has shown the ability to elevate its game at the right time. The American defensemen have played a big role, especially Hughes, who is tied for the team lead in points with six.
And their goalie? Connor Hellebuyck has been a wall. He’s allowed just three goals in three starts, and his save percentage of .957 leads all Olympians, as does his 0.98 GAA. Those are insane numbers for any tournament, let alone the Olympics.
Slovakia is the darkhorse story of this 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament. They crushed Germany 6-2 in the quarters and Juraj Slafkovsky has been lights out this entire tournament with seven points in four games. He won MVP at the 2022 Beijing Games and has a chance to become the first player to win MVP at multiple men’s Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Finland struggled against Switzerland, needing a two-goal comeback to win in overtime. That was not the first concern — Finland also lost 4-1 to Slovakia to open these Games. So they’ve been inconsistent, but don’t count out the defending champs.
The gold medal game is schedlued for Sunday, February 22. And honestly, everyone’s dreaming of a USA vs Canada final. The 2026 Winter Olympics have already been a strong ratings draw for NBC’s Olympic coverage, but a United States-Canada men’s hockey gold-medal game could be the cherry on top.
If that happens, it could be absolutely massive for viewership. During the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, 17.1 million people watched. In 2010, 27.6 million tuned in during the Vancouver Games. Imagine the numbers if McDavid vs Matthews happens in a gold medal game in 2026. It’s giving the same energy as those elite 2026 sporting rivalries where the biggest names go head to head on the world stage.
This 2026 Winter Olympics ice hockey tournament has given us everything — overtime thrillers, injury drama, underdog runs, and historic performances. I’m genuinely on the edge of my seat for todays semifinals. Hockey doesn’t get much better then this, folks. If you haven’t been watching, now’s the time to tune in.
I’ll be watching every second. Will you?
