The Milan Cortina Games mark the first Olympics with NHL participation since 2014. Players being considered for the Olympic roster will be based on evaluations of performances until the 2026 nomination date. For the men's team, the date is expected to be at the end of December or early January. For the women's team, the date is slated for early January.

The lists of players from which the Olympic rosters will be chosen will be published in the summer of 2025. For women, a top-30 group is expected to be announced in mid-July. On the men’s side, the first six players were named to the U.S. Olympic team on June 16, 2025: Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. The full 25-man U.S. roster is expected to be named in late December or early January.

Each team in the men's Olympic ice hockey tournament can have a maximum of 25 players: 22 skaters and three goaltenders. Each women's roster can include a maximum of 23 players: 20 skaters and three goaltenders.

Multiple NHL stars will make their Olympic debuts in February, including Auston Matthews, the U.S. captain during 4 Nations and 2022 Hart Trophy recipient. Matthew 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.

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 one of the veteran leaders on the U.S. team. 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.

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. However, the U.S. beat Canada in their electric round-robin matchup. The Milan Cortina Games mark the first Olympics with NHL participation since 2014.

Women's:

The U.S. women's team won the 2025 world title with an overtime victory over Canada. In 2022 at the Beijing Games, the U.S. took home a silver medal after losing to Canada in the final, 3-2.

Mike Sullivan is the head coach of the U.S. men's ice hockey team for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games. John Wroblewski is the women's head coach for Team USA in Milan.

Men's:

The first six players were named to the U.S. Olympic team on June 16, 2025: Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy. The full 25-man U.S. roster is expected to be named in late December or early January.

Women's:

USA Hockey is expected to name the ~30 players invited to participate in Olympic women’s team training camps in early to mid-July. The official 23-player Olympic roster is expected to be chosen in December or January.

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 OT win over the Canadians and are looking to add an Olympic title in 2026.

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. Both brothers also, memorably, participated in the opening fights against Canada during the first match-up of the tournament. Their dad, Keith Tkachuck, is a four-time Olympian (1992, 1998, 2002, 2006).

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. 

On the men’s side, the first six players were named to the U.S. Olympic team on June 16, 2025. The squad so far includes: Auston Matthews, Brady Tkachuk, Matthew Tkachuk, Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy.