100 days to go: USA and Canadian NHL stars prepare to make their return to the Olympic Winter Games at Milano Cortina 2026 after a 12year absence

29 October 2025 – USA and Canadian National Hockey League (NHL) Ice hockey stars have shared their excitement at returning to Olympic competition, with 100 days to go until the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

It’s been 12 years since NHL players have been able to compete in the Winter Olympics, and some of the biggest names in the sport are looking forward to a memorable competition in Milano Cortina.

Twelve nations will be competing for medals on the ice in Italy, including Team USA and Canada, teams who will be considerably strengthened by the return of their NHL stars. The return means some stars will get to play in a Winter Olympics for the first time, including Jack Eichel of Team USA:

“It’s every kid’s dream who plays hockey with aspirations of competing at the highest level to have the opportunity of representing their country at the Olympics. And what bigger honour than being able to bring a gold medal in a team, it would be incredible.”

While others such as Canadian Team Captain Sidney Crosby will be making a long awaited return to Olympic competition. 38-year-old Crosby won gold medals at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, and is aiming to complete his hat-trick at Milano Cortina 2026.

“There’s a lot of unknowns with those last couple of Olympics and whether we’d have a chance to do it again. I’m just grateful for the opportunity to be able to do it again and would love to be able to win again.”

Canada are in a high quality pool with Switzerland, France and the Czech Republic.

Men’s Ice Hockey Groups
Group A: Canada (CAN), Czechia (CZE), Switzerland (SUI), France (FRA)
Group B: Slovakia (SVK), Finland (FIN), Sweden (SWE), Italy (ITA)
Group C: United States (USA), Latvia (LAT), Germany (GER), Denmark (DEN)

IOC Sports Director Pierre Ducrey knows how much the chance to compete at Milano Cortina means to athletes:

“I think athletes love to compete, it’s a lifelong dream for them to be in a competition against the other best in the world but it’s also a unique opportunity for them to be outside of their sport, to meet other athletes that have the same drive and the same dedication.”

Around 2,900 athletes from over 90 NOCs are expected to participate in the Games. The event will feature 13 competition venues, eight sports, 16 Olympic disciplines, and 116 events in total.

The XXV Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games will take place from 6 to 22 February, followed by the Paralympic Winter Games from 6 to 15 March.

Additional Information: Olympic Flame Lighting and Handover Ceremonies

26 November, the Olympic flame will be lit in front of the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia, Greece. The Olympic flame will then travel through Greece before heading to Athens.  

04 December, the Olympic flame will be handed over from Greece to the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee at the Panathenaic Stadium, where the first modern Olympic Games were held in 1896. The Olympic flame will then travel to Rome, Italy on the same day.

05 December in Rome, there will be a public ceremony attended by the Italian Head of State. The Olympic Torch Relay officially begins on 06 December, starting in Rome.