The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, are quickly approaching, and for Minnesota Wild fans, the excitement is building. With the NHL returning to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, the State of Hockey will be well-represented. Here's a guide to help you navigate the Games, keep track of your favorite Wild players, and understand the tournament format.
When and Where
The 2026 Winter Olympics will take place from February 6 to February 22, 2026. The men's ice hockey tournament will be held in Milan at PalaItalia and Fiera Milano pavilions. The Opening Ceremony took place on February 7, 2026.
Wild Players to Watch
Several Minnesota Wild players have been named to their respective national teams. The following players will be representing their countries:
- Matt Boldy (United States): A dynamic left-wing known for his scoring ability.
- Jonas Brodin (Sweden): A solid defenseman with a strong two-way game.
- Joel Eriksson Ek (Sweden): A power forward and center recognized for his two-way play.
- Brock Faber (United States): A defenseman who competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics.
- Filip Gustavsson (Sweden): One of the Wild's standout goalies.
- Quinn Hughes (United States): A defenseman.
- Nico Sturm (Germany): A center adding depth to the German squad.
- Jesper Wallstedt (Sweden): Another talented Wild goalie.
Wild fans will have plenty to cheer for with these players showcasing their skills on the Olympic stage.
Team USA's Roster
The U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team includes Minnesota Wild players Matt Boldy, Brock Faber, and Quinn Hughes. The team also features players with Minnesota connections, such as Jake Guentzel (Woodbury), Brock Nelson (Warroad), and Jake Oettinger (Lakeville).
Tournament Format
The men's tournament will feature 12 teams. The format is similar to previous Olympics, with three groups of four teams competing in a preliminary round. Here's how it works:
- Preliminary Round: The teams are divided into three groups (A, B, and C). Each team plays the other teams in its group.
- Qualification Playoffs: The top team from each group, along with the highest-ranked of the remaining teams, gets a bye to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams play a qualification playoff game.
- Elimination Round: The winners of the qualification playoffs advance to the quarterfinals, followed by the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals play for the gold medal, and the losers compete for the bronze medal.
The IIHF determines team rankings based on their performance in the preliminary round, using criteria such as position in the group, number of points, goal difference, and goals scored.
Game Details
A standard ice hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods. If the score is tied at the end of regulation, an overtime period is played, which ends immediately when a goal is scored. If no one scores during overtime, a shootout determines the winner. However, the gold medal game has a different format: ties after regulation are resolved with sudden-death overtime periods of 20 minutes each, with ice resurfacing in between, until one team scores.
Where to Watch
All games will be available to stream live on Peacock. The USA Network will broadcast preliminary round games, with playoff round coverage to be determined.
The 2026 Winter Olympics promise to be an exciting event for hockey fans, especially those cheering on the Minnesota Wild players.