The Milan Cortina Games will be the first Olympics with NHL participation since 2014. Many NHL stars will return to the Games once again and some will be making their Olympic debut for the first time. The Games in Milan will also be played on NHL sized rinks. This will be only the third time Olympic hockey is played on NHL sized rinks. The other instances were during the 2010 Vancouver and 2022 Beijing Games.

Men's:

While the full rosters for each team have not yet been announced, the return of NHL players to the Games will result in some big changes in the men's tournament in Milan.

Multiple NHL stars will make their Olympic debuts for Team USA in February, including Auston Matthews, the U.S. captain during 4 Nations and 2022 Hart Trophy recipient. Matthew Tkachuk and Brady Tkachuk will also take the ice in Milan, following in their father Keith's footsteps. Matthew won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with the Florida Panthers in 2024 and 2025.

Sidney Crosby will return for his third Olympics with Canada after winning gold in 2010 and 2014. Connor McDavid will represent Canada in his first Olympics in Milan after scoring the game winner in February’s 4 Nations Face-Off final against the U.S.

Other notable NHL players will compete in the 2026 Games, including David Pastrnak (Czechia), Leon Draisaitl (Germany), William Nylander (Sweden) and Aleksander Barkov (Finland).

Women's:

Olympic rosters have not yet been announced for the women's tournament in Milan. However, a couple of rising stars potentially could compete.

Laila Edwards, 20, is the youngest American ever to win the tournament MVP award at a world championship. If selected for Team USA, Edwards could become the first Black woman ever to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey. 

Chloe Primerano, 18, currently is the youngest player on the Canadian team and has a shot at making the Olympic roster after the defenseman competed at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.

Men's:

Sidney Crosby will return for his third Olympics with Canada after winning gold in 2010 and 2014. 

Women's:

Hilary Knight has a medal in every color, and if the U.S. team reaches the podium in Milan, she will tie the record for most hockey medals in history (5). If selected to represent Team USA in Milan, she will become the first U.S. hockey player to compete at five Winter Olympics.

Kendall Coyne Schofield is expected to return as a veteran leader of Team USA. She's won a gold medal (2018) and earned two silver medals (2014, 2022) during her three prior Olympic appearances. She’s also won seven world titles. She served as team captain for the team’s 2022 Olympic silver-medal run.

Marie-Philip Poulin is expected to lead Canada in pursuit of a second-straight gold medal. A win for the Olympian would tie the record for most gold medals in hockey (4).

Men's:

Matthew and Brady Tkachuk are expected to be breakout stars for Team USA in Milan. Both brothers emerged as vocal and physical leaders of the U.S. team during the 4 Nations Face-Off. In the first U.S. game versus Finland, both brothers scored two goals.

Women's:

Laila Edwards, 20, is the youngest American ever to win the tournament MVP award at a world championship. If selected for Team USA, Edwards could become the first Black woman ever to represent the U.S. in Olympic hockey. 

Chloe Primerano, 18, currently is the youngest player on the Canadian team and has a shot at making the Olympic roster after the defenseman competed at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.

Men's:

The U.S. men's team had a successful performance at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. They advanced to the championship game, but Canada ultimately defeated the U.S. 3-2 in overtime. 

Women's:

The U.S. women's team won the 2025 world title with an overtime victory over Canada.

In Milan, the U.S. and Canada are the expected gold-medal contenders in the men's tournament, with Canada currently the slight favorite. Since women's hockey debuted at the Olympics in 1998, every gold has been won by either the U.S. (2) or Canada (5). Despite Canada's domination of the gold-medal count, the U.S. won the 2025 world title with an overtime win over the Canadians and are looking to add an Olympic title in 2026.

Yes, Sidney Crosby and Connor McDavid were named to Canada's roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics. The first six players were named to the team on June 16. The roster also includes Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, Brayden Point and Sam Reinhart.