COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — The 2026 Milan Winter Olympics on NBC4 are a little more than eight months away and the games’ most popular tournament has its roadmap set.

The International Ice Hockey Federation confirmed the groups for the men’s and women’s tournaments in Italy in February of 2026. All games for the Olympics will be played at two arenas in Milan: The Fiera Milano and the newly-built PalaItalia.

The men’s tournament is set to feature NHL players for the first time since 2014 with fans getting a glimpse during the 4 Nations Face-Off last February. Team USA, which is likely to feature Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski, will play in Group C with Latvia, Denmark, and Germany, who could feature former NHL MVP Leon Draisaitl. The Americans won a historic IIHF world title in May, its first in 92 years, and hope it can claim its first Olympic medal since a bronze at Sochi 2014.

Defending gold medalists Finland headline Group B with rivals Sweden, hosts Italy, and Slovakia. Favorites Canada, the 4 Nations Face-Off champions, are with Czechia, Switzerland, and France in Group A. For both the men’s and women’s tournaments, France replaces Russia after the IOC banned Russian teams from competing due to the war in Ukraine.

Men’s hockey groups

Group AGroup BGroup C
Canada FinlandFlag of the United States - Wikipedia United States
Switzerland SwedenFlag of Germany - Wikipedia Germany
Czechia Slovakia Latvia
Flag of France - Wikipedia France Italy Denmark

Meanwhile for the women’s tournament, Team USA and Canada, who have won every gold medal in Olympics history, are paired in Group A. The Canadians beat the Americans in the final at the Beijing 2022 games. Bronze medalists Finland will join the two powerhouses in group play.

Before the two take the ice in Milan, the U.S. and Canada will face-off in Cleveland as part of preparation games for the Olympics on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. Each team is set to have multiple players with Ohio or Ohio State connections.

USA: Forward Joy Dunne and defender Cayla Barnes (Ohio State), Athens-native goalie Gwyneth Philips, and Cleveland-native forward Laila Edwards.

Canada: Former Buckeyes Emma Maltais (Forward), Sophie Jacques (Defense), Natalie Spooner (Forward), and Jennifer Gardiner (Forward).

Women’s hockey groups

Group AGroup B
Canada Japan
Flag of the United States - Wikipedia United States Sweden
FinlandFlag of Germany - Wikipedia Germany
Czechia Italy
SwitzerlandFlag of France - Wikipedia France

The schedules for each tournament will be announced at a later date. The women’s tournament will begin on Feb. 5, one day before the opening ceremony, while the men’s tournament will get underway on Feb. 11.

The women’s gold medal game is scheduled for Feb. 19. The men’s final will be on Feb. 22 before the closing ceremony. You can watch all the hockey action from the Milan Olympics on NBC4 along with live coverage daily throughout the games.