Few mornings demand a 5 AM alarm for a hockey game, but the Olympic gold medal match between Canada and the United States on February 22, 2026, is one of them. With puck drop scheduled for 8:00 AM ET in a Milan arena, this article collects everything you need to follow the final day of the men’s tournament — from the full schedule to why the start time feels so unusual for North American viewers.

4 related posts

Gold medal game date: February 22, 2026 ·
Gold medal game start time: 8:00 AM ET ·
Canada preliminary record: 3-0-0 ·
USA preliminary record: 3-0-0 ·
Canada vs Czechia result: 5-3 win for Canada

Quick snapshot

1Gold Medal Game
2Schedule Highlights
  • Preliminary rounds start February 5 (NBCOlympics schedule)
  • Quarterfinals February 18 (NBCOlympics schedule)
  • Semifinals February 20 (NBCOlympics schedule)
  • Gold medal game February 22 (NBCOlympics schedule)
3How to Watch
  • USA: NBC, Peacock (NBCOlympics)
  • Canada: CBC, TSN (CBC Sports)
  • Streaming: NBCOlympics.com, CBC Gem (CBC Gem)
4Key Results So Far

Seven facts, one picture: the 2026 men’s hockey tournament reaches its climax with two unbeaten North American powers facing off in Milan. Every key detail about the final is packed below.

Label Value
Event Men’s Ice Hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics
Gold Medal Game USA vs Canada
Date February 22, 2026
Start Time 8:00 AM ET
Venue PalaItalia, Milan (IIHF game centre lists Milano Santagiulia)
Canada Preliminary Record 3-0-0
USA Preliminary Record 3-0-0

What time is the gold medal game for men’s hockey?

The gold medal game between Canada and the United States is scheduled for February 22, 2026 at 8:00 AM ET (14:10 local time). The broadcast window runs from 8:10 AM to 11:05 AM ET, according to NBCOlympics’ official schedule. ESPN (NHL coverage) confirms the same 8:10 AM ET puck drop for the final.

What time is Canada vs Finland?

Canada faced Finland in the semifinal on February 20, 2026. ESPN reports that Canada won 3-2 in overtime. The exact start time for that game is not listed in the research, but the semifinal was played during the same afternoon window in Milan (likely around 1:00 PM local time).

What time on Sunday is the gold medal game?

Sunday, February 22, 2026 — the gold medal game begins at 8:00 AM ET (or 8:10 AM ET per broadcast). For viewers on the West Coast, that means a 5:00 AM start. The bronze medal game (between the losing semifinalists) is scheduled earlier the same day, but the exact time was not provided in the research.

The implication: North American fans face an early wake-up call, but the reward is a live North America–North America final that hasn’t happened in Olympic men’s hockey since 2010.

The trade-off

European primetime viewers get the spectacle at 14:10 CET. Fans in Eastern North America lose an hour of sleep but gain a gold medal game that will be decided before lunch.

Who won men’s hockey in the Olympics tonight?

For the gold medal game still unfolding, the result is not yet available. But both teams arrived undefeated. Canada entered as the top seed, the United States as No. 2, according to ESPN’s preview (NHL analysis).

Who won the USA vs Canada men’s hockey?

The gold medal game is Canada vs USA; a winner will be determined on February 22. In the preliminary round, both teams dominated. Canada defeated Czechia 5-3, as detailed on Hockey Canada’s official schedule page. The United States beat Slovakia 6-2 in its semifinal, per ESPN.

Who won, Canada or Finland today?

Canada beat Finland 3-2 in overtime in the semifinal on February 20. The United States dispatched Slovakia 6-2 in the other semifinal. Both results come from ESPN’s post‑semifinal report.

The pattern: two powerhouse teams that have not lost all tournament are about to settle the gold on a neutral sheet of ice in Italy.

Why is the gold medal hockey game at 8am?

The 8:00 AM ET start time is a direct result of the 9‑hour time difference between Milan (CET) and Eastern North America. The IIHF (international hockey governing body) scheduled the final at 14:10 local time — the prime afternoon slot for the host continent. That translates to 8:10 AM in New York, 5:10 AM in Los Angeles. The same time‑zone logic applies to every game of the tournament when the host is outside North America.

NBCOlympics confirms the broadcast window aligns with European primetime. In past Olympics (e.g., Sochi 2014), early morning starts for North American audiences were also common when the host was in Europe or Asia.

The catch: European networks air the gold medal game in prime time, while U.S. and Canadian broadcasters run it in the breakfast slot — a standard trade‑off for a global event.

What to watch

The IIHF specifically scheduled the final at 14:10 local time to capture the largest possible live audience in Italy and across Europe, rather than shifting it to accommodate North American morning viewers.

The result: European primetime takes precedence over North American morning slots, a scheduling reality for global events.

When is the Olympic hockey gold medal game?

The gold medal game for men’s hockey is scheduled for February 22, 2026. It will be played at the PalaItalia hockey arena in Milan (also referred to as Milano Santagiulia in IIHF materials). The NBCOlympics schedule lists the final as the last event of the men’s tournament, concluding a 17‑day competition that started on February 5.

For fans asking “When is the gold medal game?”, the answer is clear: the final is always on the last day of the Winter Olympics, which in 2026 falls on a Sunday.

When is the Olympics hockey 2026?

The 2026 Winter Olympics run from February 6 to February 22, 2026. Men’s ice hockey actually begins a day early — February 5, 2026 — with the preliminary round, as noted by Hockey Canada’s tournament page. The full tournament schedule is published on the official Olympic website and the IIHF site. The men’s gold medal game on February 22 is the closing event of the entire Winter Games.

Why this matters: the Olympics represent the highest level of international hockey, and 2026 marks the return of NHL players to the Olympic stage after a 12‑year absence (Hockey Canada confirms the return of NHL stars to Milano Cortina).

Tournament timeline

  • February 5–6, 2026: Men’s hockey preliminary round begins (NBCOlympics schedule)
  • February 15, 2026: Preliminary round ends; quarterfinal matchups set
  • February 18, 2026: Quarterfinals
  • February 20, 2026: Semifinals (Canada beats Finland 3-2 OT; USA beats Slovakia 6-2) (ESPN)
  • February 22, 2026: Gold medal game (Canada vs USA, 8:00 AM ET) and bronze medal game (IIHF)

The timeline shows a compressed knockout week; any upset in the quarterfinals could reshuffle the gold‑medal contenders.

What we know and what’s still open

Confirmed facts:

  • Gold medal game date: February 22, 2026 (NBCOlympics)
  • Start time: 8:00 AM ET (ESPN)
  • Canada beat Czechia 5-3 in preliminaries (Hockey Canada)
  • Canada and USA both 3-0-0 in prelims (ESPN)

What’s unclear:

  • Winner of the gold medal game (not yet played)
  • Exact time for Canada vs Finland game (not specified in research)
  • Broadcast details for all regions beyond Canada and USA

Voices from the tournament

Gold Medal Game between CAN and USA on 2026-02-22.

– IIHF game centre

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games men’s hockey tournament features 12 elite national teams.

– Hockey Canada (national federation)

Bottom line: The 2026 men’s Olympic hockey gold medal game is a genuine North American showdown at an un‑North American hour. For fans on the East Coast, that means a 8:00 AM puck drop; for West Coast viewers, it’s before dawn. The return of NHL players and the undefeated records of both finalists promise a memorable final that will be decided in Milan but watched across the continent.

Related reading: Canada vs Czechia Men’s Hockey: Final Score & Game Recap · Grey Cup 2025 Date, Location, TV, and Halftime

Additional sources

youtube.com

For a comprehensive breakdown of the final standings, check the 2026 mens hockey results from the Milano Cortina tournament.

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Frequently asked questions

Why is the gold medal hockey game so early?

The 8:00 AM ET start aligns with European primetime (14:10 CET), the host time zone. North American morning starts are standard when the Olympics are held in Europe.

Where can I watch the Olympic hockey games live?

USA: NBC and Peacock (NBCOlympics). Canada: CBC and TSN (CBC Sports). Streaming: NBCOlympics.com and CBC Gem (CBC Gem).

Who is playing in the gold medal game?

Canada (top seed) vs United States (No. 2 seed), both undefeated in the tournament.

How did Canada and USA perform in the preliminary round?

Both finished 3-0-0. Canada beat Czechia 5-3; USA defeated Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinal.

What is the full schedule for men’s Olympic hockey?

Preliminary rounds February 5–15, quarterfinals February 18, semifinals February 20, medal games February 22.

When do the 2026 Winter Olympics start?

The Olympics run from February 6 to February 22, 2026. Men’s hockey begins February 5.