The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina have delivered a spectacle of ice hockey drama, history, and high emotion, with both the men’s and women’s tournaments reaching fever pitch. From the excitement of overtime thrillers in the men’s quarterfinals to the ongoing battle for women’s gold between Canada and the United States, and a heart-stopping bronze medal win for Switzerland, the Olympic ice has never felt more electric.
Adding to the occasion, Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana of Thailand has graced Milan with her presence as the Women’s Ice Hockey Ambassador for the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF). Her arrival at Milan Malpensa International Airport on February 18, 2026, was met with fanfare and official welcomes from dignitaries of both Italy and Thailand. The Queen’s visit, running from February 18 to 23 at the personal invitation of IIHF President Luc Tardif, underlines the growing global reach and significance of women’s ice hockey. The IIHF recognized her in 2023 for her passionate support and development of the sport in Thailand, Asia, and internationally—a testament to how far the women’s game has come.
While dignitaries gathered off the ice, the action on it has been nothing short of breathtaking. The women’s gold medal game between Canada and the United States is currently unfolding, and it’s already living up to its storied rivalry. As of the second period, Canada leads 1-0 thanks to a short-handed breakaway goal by Kristin O’Neill, who capitalized early in the period after a slick feed from Laura Stacey. The Americans, who had not allowed a goal in over 352 minutes of tournament play, suddenly found themselves trailing—a rare situation for this powerhouse squad.
Team USA has looked tense and uncharacteristically error-prone, struggling to break through Canada’s disciplined defensive sticks and the stellar goaltending of Ann-Renée Desbiens. The Americans have had their chances, with notable opportunities for players like Winn and Bilka, but Desbiens and the Canadian defense have held firm. As the broadcast team observed, “USA hasn’t had to deal with much adversity in this tournament,” making this gold medal showdown a true test of their resolve.
Canada, on the other hand, appears composed and battle-tested, drawing on the experience of veterans like Marie-Philip Poulin—who has a reputation for delivering in Olympic finals. Poulin is already co-leading the team in shots and making her presence felt, as she has in every gold medal game she’s played. The Canadians’ ability to generate offense even while short-handed, as shown by O’Neill’s goal, is a reminder of their depth and tactical prowess. The USA, meanwhile, is searching for answers and hoping their second-period surge—a hallmark of their tournament play—can turn the tide.
The men’s tournament has been equally riveting, especially with the return of NHL players to Olympic competition. The quarterfinals delivered three games that went to overtime, showcasing just how thin the margins are at this elite level. Canada, perennial favorites, faced a stern test against Czechia. Down 3-2 in the third period, they rallied to tie the game before Mitch Marner produced a moment of magic in overtime to send the Canadians to the semifinals. Notably, they did it without their captain, Sidney Crosby, adding another layer to the team’s growing confidence as they prepare to face Finland in the semifinals on February 20 at 10:40 a.m. ET.
The United States also needed overtime heroics to advance, with Quinn Hughes netting the game-winner against Sweden. The Americans had not beaten Sweden in men’s Olympic hockey since 1960, making this victory both historic and a potential rallying point. The U.S. will now square off against Slovakia, who surged past Germany 6-2 in their quarterfinal and already boast a win over Finland from earlier in the tournament. Slovakia’s Juraj Slafkovsky has been a standout, racking up seven points in four games and aiming to become the first player to win MVP at multiple men’s Olympic Games.
Finland, despite being strong on paper with a near-complete NHL roster, has struggled with consistency, eking out an overtime win against Switzerland but falling to Slovakia in the group stage. Their semifinal matchup with Canada is a chance to silence the doubters and prove they can string together a complete performance when it matters most.
Meanwhile, the Swiss women’s team wrote their own chapter of Olympic history, claiming the bronze medal with a dramatic 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden. Alina Müller, a name etched in Swiss hockey lore, repeated her heroics from twelve years earlier by scoring the overtime winner. The game itself was a see-saw battle: Sweden struck first through Mira Jungaker, only for Switzerland to respond minutes later with a goal from Sinja Leemann, assisted by Alina Marti. Both teams had opportunities to win in regulation, but stellar goaltending and missed power-play chances sent the contest into overtime. Müller’s goal, set up by a slick pass from Ivana Wey, sealed the deal for Switzerland. “I am still at a loss for words. It means everything, this team, the staff, everybody fought so hard for this moment... it was a hard battle and even nice to win like that,” Müller told Olympics.com, capturing the raw emotion of the moment.
As the medal rounds progress, the spotlight on women’s hockey continues to grow, with ambassadors like Queen Suthida championing the sport’s development and the athletes themselves delivering unforgettable moments on the ice. The ongoing women’s gold medal game between the United States and Canada remains too close to call, with both teams vying for their place in history. Will the Canadians add a sixth gold to their storied tally, or can the Americans mount a comeback and claim their third? With forty minutes left to decide the gold, fans around the world are glued to their screens, knowing that anything can happen when these two giants collide.
In Milan, the Olympic spirit is alive and well—on the ice, in the stands, and in the hearts of everyone who cherishes the game. As the semifinals and finals approach, the world watches, breath held, for the next chapter in this unforgettable hockey saga.