Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics: Top Men’s Ice Hockey Teams & Groups

If you are an ice hockey fan and would love to see your favourite NHL players in action, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina would be a delight to watch. From the kings of North America to the powerful European challengers, there would be 10 women’s teams and 12 men's teams participating from February 5 to February 22.

For the first time since 2014, NHL stars will be there. In the men's division, there would be three groups (A, B, and C) of four teams each, while the women's division would have two groups (A and B) of five teams each.

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Men's Groups

Based on our analysis, we have created a list of the best ice hockey teams that might amaze you with their performance.

Men's Powerhouses

No one comes close to Canada's men's hockey team in ice hockey. In Olympic history, Canada holds the record for the most total medals (14), including 9 Olympic gold medals. They have a star-studded lineup that includes Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby, making them the toughest team to face. Will they repeat the history of not? Only time will tell.

The American Ice Hockey team would also be eying a gold, which they haven't won since 1960. While they do have some huge NHL stars, they haven't been able to convert their silvers to gold. With an all-time total of 8 medals, the USA is the second-most successful ice hockey team, featuring stars like Auston Matthews, Jack Hughes, and Connor Hellebuyck.

The Scandinavian dominators, Sweden, are another powerful men's team with a balanced attack, and top-tier odds make them a huge contender. Sweden has a total of 9 medals, including 2 gold, 4 silver, and 3 bronze. They are the ones who can give Canada and the USA a tough time with their squad, including William Nylander, Elias Pettersson, and Mika Zibanejad up front.

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European Contenders

Finland would also be a surprise element in Group B. With their international experience and a solid defence, they aim to finish on the podium again. The squad may not look very strong against the likes of Canada and the USA, but their face-off against Slovakia would be a battle to watch. Till now, they have won a total of 4 medals, including 1 gold, 2 silver, and 1 bronze. And with players like Mikko Rantanen and Miro Heiskanen, they'll look to repeat history.

The Czech Republic is one of the strongest men's teams outside North America, known for upsetting when least expected. In the IIHF World Rankings 2025, they are standing tall in 6th place in the men's division. So far, they have won two Olympic medals, which include a gold and a bronze. The star-studded lineup of David Pastrňák and Jakub Lauko would be some of their strongest points.

The Swiss hockey team is often overlooked at the Olympics, only to surprise everyone at the end. They are ranked 7th in the 2025 IIHF rankings in the men's standings. They have an all-time total of 0 medals. With players such as Roman Josi and Nino Niederreiter, they'll be aiming to make it to the playoffs at least or even grab the medal.

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Wild Cards and Hosts

Slovakia's hockey team can be the wild card team with their NHL firepower and qualification grit. They are ranked 10th in the men's division of the IIHF rankings 2025. They'd be facing Finland early, which could go either way. The speedy Slovakian team has power and skill, with NHL stars like Juraj Slafkovský and Šimon Nemec, along with defensive stalwarts Martin Fehérváry and Erik Černák.

Nothing can beat the home advantage if leveraged smartly. Italy’s national team might not have been among the favourites, but it is still among the top 20 teams in the IIHF rankings, which means it can play decently when needed. Historically, Italy has never won a medal at the Winter Olympics ice hockey. Their best performance was in 1956, when they finished seventh. In the end, all the Italian hopes will lie on goaltender Damian Clara, defenders Thomas Larkin and Phil Pietroniro, and forwards Diego Kostner, Daniel Mantenuto, and Tommy Purdeller.

These teams mix stars, strategy, and surprises. Men's playoffs heat up post-group stage, with gold on February 22. The women's side sees the USA and Canada duel fiercely, but Europe fights back. Tune in for non-stop action from Milano-Cortina.