A dream final with NHL flair: It's about more than just gold.

As with the women, Canada and the USA will also compete for gold in the men's final of the Milan Olympic ice hockey tournament on Sunday (2:10 pm).

February 21, 2026

From: dpa/nie

For the arch-rivals, both boasting NHL stars, it's not just about Olympic gold, but also about prestige, honor, and ice hockey dominance. While the Canadians are aiming for their tenth Olympic title, the Americans are going for their third – their first in 46 years.

The National Hockey League (NHL) could hardly have written a better script than when the world's strongest league agreed to send its players to the Winter Games for the first time in twelve years. For Canada, it's about extending its legacy, as ice hockey originated there and is considered a national religion. For the United States, it offers a chance for revenge, 16 years after the Canadians snatched gold from them in a dramatic overtime in Vancouver. Their last Olympic title came in 1980 at the "Miracle on Ice" against the Soviet Union.

The arch-rivals in the gold final

“The rivalry with Canada has a long history,” said US forward Brock Nelson, whose grandfather won Olympic gold in 1960 and whose uncle was part of the famous winning team in 1980. “There won’t be a single television set in the US and Canada that isn’t showing the game,” said US star Matthew Tkachuk, a self-confessed Donald Trump fan. A few days ago, Italian media reported that, in the event of the US reaching the final, the police were preparing for a visit from the US president.

Nathan MacKinnon and his teammates dream of gold. © APA/afp / ALEXANDER NEMENOV

Canada is determined to claim the title in Milan. "It's a huge opportunity. We have to be ready," said Nathan MacKinnon. The participation of the injured Sidney Crosby in the final is uncertain. Not only the world's biggest hockey nation is anxiously awaiting news of whether their captain and superstar will be able to play on Sunday. "That would be incredible," said Canadian winger Seth Jarvis. "His influence in the locker room is not to be underestimated. Having a guy like him on Sunday would have a massive impact on us."

Curious exceptions in Canada

Canada's performance in the knockout rounds was far from convincing, with the "Maple Leaves" coming close to elimination against both the Czech Republic (4-3 OT) and Finland (3-2). World champions USA had considerably less trouble, defeating Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinals. Both finalists remain undefeated at the Winter Games. "These are truly the two best teams in this tournament. We have a chance to achieve something really big," said US forward Jack Eichel. The US women's team, who defeated Canada 2-1 OT in the final on Thursday, serve as a model.

The US women are already Olympic champions – will the men follow suit? © APA/afp / ALEXANDER NEMENOV

Meanwhile, in Canada, the final on Sunday is leading to some rather unusual relaxations of alcohol laws. In the province of Ontario, bars and restaurants are allowed to serve alcohol from 6:00 a.m. onwards, unlike usual, and the match kicks off there at 8:10 a.m. local time. Similar exceptions are planned in other Canadian provinces.

Keywords hockey Olympics 2026 Canada Final USA Gold