The 2026 Winter Olympics are here, and for the first time since the Golden Knights became a franchise, NHL players will participate for one of sports’ most coveted prizes. Here’s a little rundown of everything you need to know about the tournament and VGK’s participation.
Tournament Format
12 teams have been drawn into three groups of four.
Group A – Canada, Switzerland, Czechia, France
Group B – Finland, Sweden, Slovakia, Italy
Group C – USA, Germany, Latvia, Denmark
The winner of each group, along with the best 2nd place finisher, will automatically advance to the quarterfinals. The remaining eight teams will be ranked 5-12 based on position in the group, highest number of points, goal difference, number of goals scored, and 2020 IIHF ranking, in that order. These teams will play in the first round of the playoff with matchups of 5v12, 6v11, 7v10, and 8v9.
The four automatic qualifiers will be ranked 1-4 using the same criteria to determine who they will play in the quarterfinals. 1v8/9, 2v7/10, 3v6/11, 4v5/12.
In the semifinals, teams will be reseeded so that the highest remaining team plays the lowest and the middle two play each other.
The highest-seeded team is always designated as the home team.
The tournament uses a three-point system.
3 points = Regulation win
2 points = Overtime win
1 point = Overtime loss
0 points = Regulation loss
Group stage games that end tied will go to a 5-minute 3-on-3 followed by a shootout. Playoff games prior to the gold medal match, will go to a 10-minute 3-on-3 followed by a shootout. And the gold medal match is 3-on-3 until a goal is scored.
