USA and Canada to Face Off in Olympic Hockey Gold Medal Game

The two North American rivals will battle for the top prize in men's ice hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 12:56pm

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The United States and Canada will meet in the gold medal game of the men's ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The American team, led by defenseman Zach Werenski, defeated Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal to advance to the championship match. This will be the first Olympic hockey final between the two North American rivals since 2010, when Canada won on home ice in Vancouver. Both teams are stacked with NHL superstars, setting the stage for an epic showdown for the gold medal.

Why it matters

The USA-Canada rivalry in men's hockey is one of the most storied in international sports. The two nations have combined to win 12 of the 23 gold medals awarded in Olympic men's hockey history. An American victory would end a 46-year drought since the iconic "Miracle on Ice" triumph at the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, while Canada is seeking to defend its status as the dominant hockey power.

The details

The American team, featuring NHL stars like Zach Werenski and Brady Tkachuk, cruised past Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal to set up the gold medal showdown with Canada. The two North American rivals last met in the Olympic final in 2010, when Canada won 3-2 in overtime on a Sidney Crosby goal. Canada is the defending champion from the 2022 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, where they defeated the USA in the final.

  • The USA-Canada Olympic hockey final will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2026 at 2:10 PM local time in Milan, Italy.
  • The USA defeated Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal on Friday, February 21, 2026 to advance to the gold medal game.

The players

Zach Werenski

A defenseman for the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL, Werenski is a 10-year veteran and one of the top American players on the Olympic roster.

Brady Tkachuk

A forward for the Ottawa Senators, Tkachuk is representing the USA in his first Olympic Games and is eager to capture the gold medal.

Connor McDavid

The star forward for the Canadian national team, McDavid scored the overtime winner against the USA in last year's 4 Nations Face-Off final.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be a real special moment to just have an opportunity to achieve your childhood dream. There's nothing better than that.”

— Brady Tkachuk, USA Forward

“Chills. Maybe we wouldn't even realize the impact it would have. The way this tournament has gone, and how everyone has seemed to want the U.S.-Canada final, hopefully it's really building some tension. And people are as excited about Sunday as we are.”

— Dylan Larkin, USA Forward

What’s next

The winner of the USA-Canada gold medal game will be crowned the 2026 Olympic men's ice hockey champion.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between the two North American rivals has the potential to be an instant classic, with both teams stacked with NHL superstars and the chance for the USA to end its 46-year Olympic gold medal drought in men's hockey.