The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics are into the final week, and the knockout medal bracket in men’s hockey is upon us.
All 12 teams still have a chance at reaching the gold medal game, but for eight of those teams, they will need to win a qualification playoff game first to keep their medal hopes alive. Four teams, however, officially clinched a spot in the bracket and await winners of the four qualification playoff games.
The 12 Olympic men’s hockey teams were placed into three groups of four teams each. Following the preliminary games, the 12 teams were ranked from 1-12, with the top four teams securing a bye.
Who has advanced to the knockout medal bracket?
Canada – Automatic qualifier
Switzerland – Advanced to qualification playoffs
Czechia – Advanced to qualification playoffs
France – Advanced to qualification playoffs
Slovakia – Automatic qualifier
Finland – Automatic qualifier
Sweden – Advanced to qualification playoffs
Italy – Advanced to qualification playoffs
United States – Automatic qualifier
Germany – Advanced to qualification playoffs
Denmark – Advanced to qualification playoffs
Latvia – Advanced to qualification playoffs
What were the rankings after the preliminary games?
Here is how the teams were ranked, and these seedings were used to reseed the field prior to the beginning of b racket play. Factors used in the rankings included group standings, goal differential, and more.
What does the medal bracket look like?
Qualification Playoff Games
Germany 5, France 1
Switzerland 3, Italy 0
Czechia 3, Denmark 2
Sweden vs. Latvia: February 17, 3:10 p.m. Eastern
Slovakia vs. Germany: February 18, 6:10 a.m. Eastern
Canada vs. Czechia: February 18, 10:40 a.m. Eastern
Finland vs. Switzerland: February 18, 12:10 p.m. Eastern
United States vs. Sweden/Latvia winner: February 18, 3:10 p.m. Eastern
TBD vs. TBD: February 20
TBD vs. TBD: February 20
Bronze: Feb. 21, 1:40 a.m.
(Note: Teams will be reseeded based on the preliminary round rankings following the quarterfinals).
