When the world’s best NHL players hit the ice for the Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026, they’ll be taking on a challenge unlike any other. Olympic ice hockey requires a level of skill and intensity that’s unmatched in any other sport. The stakes are high, the style is different and the games have a unique rhythm that’s utterly distinct from the NHL.
The history of the Games is filled with amazing stories — the most dramatic being the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980 at Lake Placid. But even in recent Games without NHL players, new storylines have emerged. Sweden’s gold medal in 1994, the Czech Republic’s rise behind Dominik Hasek’s goaltending to win in 1998 and Canada’s return to the top after skipping a few Olympics have made for memorable moments on the ice.
One big difference between the Olympics and the NHL is face-off rules. In the NHL, the attacking team — the team closest to their opponent’s net during the face-off — must put its stick down first. The Olympics allow the teams to choose who puts their stick down first and the attacking team must keep it in the same direction as the puck.
Another on-ice difference is that the NHL’s trapezoid behind the net – an area where a goalie cannot field the puck — doesn’t exist at the Olympics. That allows for more attacking opportunities and is a key reason why the game is different at the Games.