USA and Canada to Battle for Olympic Men's Hockey Gold

North American rivals clash in highly anticipated gold medal matchup in Milan.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The much-anticipated showdown between the United States and Canada in the men's Olympic hockey final has arrived. This will be the third time the two North American rivals have met for the gold medal since NHL players began participating in 1998, with Canada winning the previous two matchups in 2010 and 2002. Though the USA enters in better form, Canada is favored by 1.5 goals in the highly anticipated clash.

Why it matters

The USA-Canada hockey rivalry is one of the most storied in international sports, with the two nations consistently fielding two of the top men's hockey teams in the world. This gold medal game represents the pinnacle of that rivalry, as the two powerhouses battle for Olympic supremacy on the ice.

The details

The gold medal game will take place on Sunday at the Milano Santagiulia Arena in Milan, with puck drop scheduled for 6:10 a.m. MT/7:10 a.m. CT. Canada enters as the 1.5-goal favorite, though the money line is essentially even. The game will be broadcast on NBC and can be streamed on Peacock.

  • The USA vs. Canada men's hockey gold medal game will take place on Sunday, February 23, 2026.
  • Puck drop is scheduled for 6:10 a.m. MT/7:10 a.m. CT.

The players

United States men's hockey team

The U.S. men's hockey team has advanced to the gold medal game after routing Slovakia in the semifinals.

Canada men's hockey team

Canada's men's hockey team is the favorite heading into the gold medal game, having survived a pair of thrillers in the medal round.

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What’s next

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

The takeaway

The USA-Canada hockey rivalry is one of the most intense in international sports, and this gold medal matchup represents the pinnacle of that storied competition. Both teams will be highly motivated to come out on top and claim Olympic glory.