Canada and Czech Republic meet again in Olympic hockey quarterfinals

The winner advances to the semifinals, the loser's Olympics end.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 6:23am

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The quarterfinals of the men's hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy feature a rematch between Canada and the Czech Republic. The two teams previously faced off in the group stage, with Canada winning 5-0. Now, they'll meet again in a winner-take-all quarterfinal matchup, with the victor advancing to the semifinals and the loser's Olympic run coming to an end.

Why it matters

This quarterfinal matchup is a high-stakes rematch between two of the top hockey nations, with a spot in the semifinals on the line. Canada enters as the favorite after a dominant group stage, but the Czech Republic will be looking to pull off the upset and continue their Olympic journey.

The details

Canada finished the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record, outscoring opponents 20-3. The Czech Republic, meanwhile, lost to France and Switzerland in the group stage before defeating Denmark 3-2 in the qualification round to advance. In their previous meeting, Canada cruised to a 5-0 victory over the Czechs.

  • The quarterfinal matchup between Canada and the Czech Republic is scheduled for February 18, 2026 at 10:40 a.m. ET.
  • The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy will conclude with the closing ceremony on February 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET.

The players

Waymo

An American autonomous driving company and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Walker Reed Quinn

A 45-year-old San Francisco resident who has a history of vandalism and was out on bail for prior cases related to Waymo vehicles.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.