US Trends

when does usa mens hockey play

USA men’s hockey at the 2026 Winter Olympics opens in mid‑February in Milan (Group C). Here’s when they play in the preliminary round, with times in Eastern Time (ET):

Quick Scoop: When does USA men’s hockey play?

  • Thursday, Feb 12, 2026 – vs. Latvia, 3:10 p.m. ET (local time 9:10 p.m. in Milan).
  • Saturday, Feb 14, 2026 – vs. Denmark, 3:10 p.m. ET (local time 9:10 p.m.).
  • Sunday, Feb 15, 2026 – vs. Germany, 3:10 p.m. ET (local time 9:10 p.m.).

All three group‑stage games are at the Santagiulia Arena in Milan/Cortina.

If Team USA advances, they are slotted for knockout‑round windows on:

  • Tuesday, Feb 17 – qualification playoff (time block 3:10 p.m. ET / 9:10 p.m. local, opponent TBD).
  • Wednesday, Feb 18 – quarterfinal (same time block, TBD).
  • Friday, Feb 20 – semifinal (same time block, TBD).
  • Saturday, Feb 21 – bronze‑medal game, 2:10 p.m. ET (8:10 p.m. local).
  • Sunday, Feb 22 – gold‑medal game, 8:10 a.m. ET.

In forum threads, fans are saying this is one of the most stacked USA men’s lineups in years, thanks to NHL stars finally being back at the Olympics, and they’re circling that Feb 12 opener vs. Latvia as the real “here we go” moment for the tournament.

At-a-glance HTML table (ET times)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>Date (2026)</th>
      <th>Matchup</th>
      <th>Round</th>
      <th>Time (ET)</th>
      <th>Arena / Location</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 12</td>
      <td>Latvia vs USA</td>
      <td>Preliminary (Group C)</td>
      <td>3:10 p.m.</td>
      <td>Santagiulia Arena, Milan</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 14</td>
      <td>USA vs Denmark</td>
      <td>Preliminary (Group C)</td>
      <td>3:10 p.m.</td>
      <td>Santagiulia Arena, Milan</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 15</td>
      <td>USA vs Germany</td>
      <td>Preliminary (Group C)</td>
      <td>3:10 p.m.</td>
      <td>Santagiulia Arena, Milan</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

Little context for fans

  • These games are afternoon starts in the U.S. but prime‑time in Italy, which is why you see the “3:10 p.m. ET / 9:10 p.m. local” pairing everywhere.
  • Discussion on hockey forums and social media is already buzzing over the group draw – many fans feel USA’s group is relatively favorable, which ramps up expectations but also pressure.
  • With NHL players back, a lot of the “when does USA men’s hockey play” searches spike right before that Feb 12 opener as fans plan watch parties and office‑TV time.

If you tell me your time zone or TV provider, I can help translate those times or point you toward where to watch. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.