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NHL players can play at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Games after reaching an agreement on Wednesday.
The NHL, the NHLPA, the International Ice Hockey Federation and the International Olympic Committee confirmed that NHL players will be allowed, which was initially negotiated last year.
This confirmation will now allow NHL players to participate for their countries in the Olympic Games for the first time since 2014.
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Brandon Hagel, from the Canada team, reacts after a fight with Matthew Tkachuk of the United States (not in the photo) during the first period of a 4 -nations confrontation game in Bell Center on February 15, 2025, in Montreal, Quebec. (Andrea Cardin/4NFO/Hockey World Cup through Getty Images)
“Olympic participation will show the ability and talent of the NHL players in an international stage. We are proud to collaborate with the IIHF, NHLPA and the IOC to take the best hockey players in the world to the Olympic Games and make this happen in a way that benefits the global games,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman in a statement.
Marty Walsh, executive director of the NHLPA, added: “The best international tournaments such as Olympic Games provide the opportunity to create extraordinary moments for our players and fans equally. The return to the Olympic Games marks a monumental moment for hockey, and we thank our partners: the NHL, IOC and IIHF, for this collaborative process.
“The skill and passion in exhibition in Milano Cortina will develop the emotion of the confrontation of the 4 nations and continue the global growth of our game.”
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Some may have had doubts about an agreement because it took a long time to put the pen on paper.
But this agreement will also allow the participation of NHL players in the 2030 Games in the French Alps.
Brandon Hagel de Canada, on the left, fight against the Matthew Tkachuk of the United States during the first period of a set of confrontation of 4 nations in Montreal on February 15, 2025. (Graham Hughes // The Canadian press through AP)
The 2026 male hockey tournament will begin on February 11 and will run until February 22.
Hockey fans tested what will come in Milano Cortina during the confrontation of the 4 nations, which featured NHL players in Canada, Finland, Sweden and the United States.
There was a particular tension between Canada and the United States, promoted in part by President Donald Trump and the crack of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau out of ice. Fans booed during the national hymns of the countries during the games. On the ice, a fight in Montreal broke out before the United States defeated Canada.
The US team striker. UU. Matthew Tkachuk, on the right, celebrates with the defense Zach Werenski after his goal against Finland in the third period during a set of confrontation of 4 nations in Bell Center on February 13, 2025. (David Kirouac/Imagn images)
However, when the final of the confrontation of the 4 nations arrived at the TD garden in Boston, it was Canada obtaining an extra -time victory.
There will be 12 countries participating in the hockey tournament next year: Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, France, Checia, Canada, United States, Latvia, Germany and Denmark.
