The United States beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to win the men’s ice hockey gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Sunday 22 February 2026, claiming their first Olympic men’s hockey title since the famous Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid 1980. Jack Hughes scored the winning goal 1:41 into overtime at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan, with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck making 41 saves across regulation and the extra period. The victory came on the 46th anniversary of the Lake Placid final.
What is the Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament?
The Olympic men’s ice hockey tournament is contested by twelve qualified nations split into three groups. After a round robin the top seed from each group and the best runner-up advance directly to the quarter-finals, while the remaining teams play qualification round matches. Milano Cortina 2026 marked the return of NHL players to the Olympics for the first time since Sochi 2014, with all twelve teams able to select their strongest squads.
Games are 20-minute periods with overtime and shootouts used in the playoffs to resolve ties. The tournament has been part of every Winter Olympics since 1924.
When did the Gold Medal Game Take Place?
The men’s final was played on Sunday 22 February 2026, the closing day of the Games. Puck drop was in the early evening local time and the game ended late at night after overtime.
Where was it Held?
The gold medal game was staged at the Santa Giulia Arena (referred to in some IIHF and Olympic branding as PalaItalia Santa Giulia) in Milan’s Santa Giulia district. Built to around 16,000 capacity for ice hockey, it was also the venue for the women’s gold medal game and the majority of the men’s knockout round. Earlier pool games were played at the Pine Arena near Trento.
Results
The United States and Canada traded goals through regulation, with Connor McDavid scoring for Canada and Auston Matthews equalising for the US. Canada outshot the Americans 42-28 across regulation and overtime, but Connor Hellebuyck stood tall with 41 saves. Jack Hughes ended the game 1:41 into sudden-death overtime off a feed from Zach Werenski, delivering gold and triggering scenes of US celebration in Milan.
Gold for the United States. Silver for Canada. Finland beat Sweden in the bronze medal game earlier in the day.
Background and Form Going In
Canada had been pre-tournament favourites with a squad headlined by Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. The United States leaned on a core of Auston Matthews, Jack and Quinn Hughes, Charlie McAvoy and Hellebuyck. Sweden, led by Erik Karlsson, Elias Pettersson and Lucas Raymond, and Finland with Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen had also been ranked among the contenders. Russia did not participate.
History and Records
The United States had not won an Olympic men’s ice hockey gold medal since the Miracle on Ice at Lake Placid 1980, a 40-year drought that ran through six NHL-era Games. Hughes’s golden goal came exactly 46 years after Mike Eruzione scored against the Soviet Union in February 1980. Canada has now reached the Olympic gold medal game in seven of the eleven tournaments contested this century, winning four (2002, 2010, 2014, and losing in 2026).
The return of NHL players made Milano Cortina the strongest men’s Olympic hockey tournament since Sochi 2014. With NHL players absent from PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022, gold had gone to Olympic Athletes from Russia and Finland respectively.
How to Watch (Replays)
Replays and highlights are available on olympics.com, NBC and Peacock in the United States, CBC, Sportsnet and TSN in Canada, BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom, Eurosport and Discovery+ across Europe, and other national Olympic broadcasters. The IIHF’s official YouTube channel also carries tournament highlights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in men’s ice hockey at Milano Cortina 2026?
The United States, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime.
Who scored the winning goal?
Jack Hughes, 1:41 into overtime, assisted by Zach Werenski.
When was the gold medal game played?
Sunday 22 February 2026 at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan.
When did the US last win men’s Olympic ice hockey gold?
Lake Placid 1980, the Miracle on Ice. The 2026 final was played 46 years to the day later.
Who won bronze?
Finland, beating Sweden in the bronze medal game.