TOPLINE: The National Hockey League (NHL) will send players to the 2026 Olympics in Milan, marking its return to the Games for the first time since the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Previous setbacks in 2018 and 2022, attributed to costs and the pandemic, led to the league’s non-participation.
KEY FACTS:
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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed the league’s participation in the 2026 Milan Olympics and the 2030 Games, scheduled for the French Alps, during a press conference in Toronto.
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This announcement follows the NHL’s decision to decline player participation in the 2018 Olympics in South Korea, as it would have required a pause in the regular season.
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The league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players Association in 2020 allowed player participation in 2022 and 2026. However, the NHL withdrew from the 2022 Beijing Games due to disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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A new agreement involves the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and other Olympics organizing committees covering NHL players’ insurance and travel costs during the Games.
SURPRISING FACT: In addition to the Olympic announcement, the NHL revealed plans to host the “4 Nations Face-Off” in February, an in-season tournament featuring NHL players from the U.S., Canada, Finland, or Sweden.
KEY BACKGROUND: Historically considered the top hockey league globally, the NHL allowed its players to participate in five consecutive Olympics from 1998 to 2014. However, the IOC’s decision to discontinue covering some costs led to the NHL’s withdrawal in 2018. The IIHF reportedly offered to bear the expenses, but negotiations failed. This decision affected Team USA, which comprised former NHL players, college players, and those from other leagues, finishing seventh in 2018 and fifth in 2022.
BIG NUMBER: The U.S. men’s hockey team has won a total of 11 medals, including two golds in 1980 and 1960. The most recent medal was a silver in 2010.
TANGENT: Salt Lake City, Utah, has been named a “preferred host” for the 2034 Winter Olympics, marking the return of the Games to the U.S.