2026 Winter Olympics Daily: Feb. 12
The 2026 Winter Olympics from Milano Cortina are officially underway!
A total of 96 CHL alumni are participating in the tournament that features 12 teams competing for gold with the return of NHL players to the competition for the first time since 2014.
Day 1 results (Feb. 11)
Slovakia 4-1 Finland
Sweden 5-2 Italy
About yesterday:
In the tournament opener, Slovakia stunned Finland 4-1 as former Sudbury Wolves star Dalibor Dvorsky (STL) scored the game-winner 7:20 into the third period. Former Edmonton Oil Kings d-man Martin Gernat and Kitchener Rangers forward Adam Liska each recorded an assist while Sherbrooke Phoenix alumnus Samuel Hlavaj made 38 saves to set a Slovak Olympic record.
Former Kitchener Rangers captain Gabriel Landeskog (COL) had a goal while ex-Plymouth Whaler Rickard Rakell (PIT) tallied an assist as Sweden battled past hosts Italy 5-2 in their opener. In defeat, former Medicine Hat Tigers and Regina Pats forward Matt Bradley scored for Italy.
Day 2 schedule (Feb. 12)
France vs. Switzerland – 6:10 am ET / 3:10am PT
Canada vs. Czechia – 10:40am ET / 7:40am PT
Denmark vs. Germany – 3:10pm ET / 12:10pm PT
USA vs. Latvia – 3:10pm ET / 12:10pm PT
The day ahead:
In Group A, France makes its return to the Olympics for the first time since 2002 when they face Switzerland in their tournament opener. Regardless of results this year, they will also play in 2030 as hosts of the tournament. As for Switzerland, this marks their seventh straight appearance at the event and their 17th overall. The Swiss, who finished eighth in 2022, are two-time bronze medallists having won in 1928 and 1948.
The highlight of Day 2 will be the Group A match-up between Canada and Czechia. Canada’s NHL players return to the ice for the first time since 2014 where they won gold in Sochi after a 3-0 win against Sweden. Canada are nine-time gold medallists while they have also claimed silver on four occasions and bronze three times. As for Czechia, they make their ninth appearance at the tournament and will hope to match their 1998 result when they won gold in Nagano, Japan. The Czech’s also have a bronze medal from 2006.
For Denmark, the 2026 tournament marks just their second ever appearance after they debuted in 2022 where they impressed with a seventh place finish. They’ll face a German squad in Group C action that plays at the Olympics for a 24th time. Just eight years ago, they came within a goal of winning gold after they fell 4-3 to the Olympic Athletes of Russia in the final. In addition to their silver medal, they’ve twice won bronze (1932, 1976).
In the day’s final game from Group C, the USA begin their quest for a third gold medal. Champions in 1960 and 1980, the Americans have twice claimed silver since then (2002/2010) where they fell to Canada on both occasions. Latvia will participate in their 11th Olympics where a quarter-final berth in 2014 remains their best result.
