NHL Ice Hockey Returns to the Olympics!
Zürich – The NHL, the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA), and international officials have formalized a long-awaited agreement to allow NHL players to participate in the 2026 Olympic Games, to be held in Milan-Cortina. This agreement, initially announced last year, marks the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014. The collaboration between the league, the players’ association, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been fundamental in achieving this milestone.NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman expressed his enthusiasm for the return of the league’s players to the world’s most important international stage.Olympic participation will showcase the skill and talent of NHL players on an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, the NHLPA, and the IOC to bring the world’s best hockey players to the Olympic Games and make this happen in a way that benefits the game globally.
Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner
Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, added that the return to the Olympic Games is a momentous occasion for hockey, thanking the collaboration with the NHL, the IOC and the IIHF. Luc Tardif, IIHF president, called the agreement “a great step forward for our sport”. After months of negotiations, the details have been finalized, opening the door to the NHL’s participation in the 2030 Olympic Games, an agreement that had already been reached in February 2024. Last month, the 12 participating countries revealed the first six players of their Olympic rosters. The men’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Games is scheduled to take place from February 11 to 22.International “best-on-best” tournaments like the Olympic Games provide an opportunity to create extraordinary moments for both our players and fans.
Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director
