The Americans' deep and talented men's hockey roster makes them a co-favorite to win gold. It also means there will be some surprising omissions.

The Winter Olympics are set to begin on February 6, 2026, in Milan. The Milano Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena may not be finished in time.

Get to know the basics of Olympic hockey — learn how the men’s and women’s tournaments are structured, how games are scored and decided, what rules differ from the NHL, and who the top medal contenders are for Milan Cortina 2026.

Men’s and women’s games at two arenas will be played in rinks that are 60 meters long by 26 meters wide, or 196.85-by-85.3 feet. NHL dimensions are 200 by 85 feet, so the Olympic ice will be slightly wider and more than 3 feet shorter.

NHLers are set to return to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, but the hockey arena they're set to play in has had another setback.