NHL players will return to Olympic competition in Milano Cortina, plus 2030

The NHL, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL Players’ Association made the announcement Friday (2 February).

2 minBy Scott Bregman
Members of Gold medallist Team Finland pose

(2022 Getty Images)

NHL players will be returning to the Olympic Winter Games for the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

The NHL, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the NHL Players’ Association announced an agreement on Friday (2 February) that will allow for the players to participate in both the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina and the 2030 Games.

"The international composition of National Hockey League rosters is unparalleled, and NHL Players take great pride in representing their countries," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said during a press conference. "We are pleased that today, after intense collaborative efforts with the NHL Players' Association and the International Ice Hockey Federation, we can formally announce that NHL Players will participate in both the 2026 and 2030 Olympic hockey tournaments."

The International Olympic Committee said in a statement Friday, “The IOC welcomes the agreement between the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), the National Hockey League (NHL), and the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA). This agreement will lead to the participation of all the best ice hockey players of the world in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 and the Olympic Winter Games 2030. All the parties who were involved in coming to this agreement should be commended for this excellent result.

The IOC continues to be in touch with the International Ice Hockey Federation on this matter.”

NHL players have previously participated in Olympic competition five times, taking to the ice at Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002, Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014. 

“Just wanted to say how excited I am that we are going to the Olympics,” said Auston Matthews, an American ice hockey player, in a tweet posted by the NHL. Matthews currently plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL. “Looking forward to the opportunity to represent my country.”

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled for 6-22 February 2026.

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