Canada will start the men’s hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a strong test against Czechia. The preliminary-round game drops the puck on Thursday, Feb. 12, at 10:40 a.m. ET in Milan, Italy. NHL players have returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, boosting interest in the event.
This Group A matchup features a Canadian roster filled with talented NHL stars and a Czech team that won gold at the 2024 IIHF World Championship in Prague. Canada has not won Olympic gold since Sochi 2014, the last Games with NHL participation. Czechia seeks its first Olympic medal since bronze at the 2006 Turin Games.
Where to Watch Team Canada Vs. Czechia
Fans in Canada can watch the game live on CBC, Bell Media, Rogers Media, and other official Olympic platforms. In the United States, NBC and Peacock will carry Olympic hockey coverage.
In Europe (including Czechia), fans can watch the game on Warner Bros Discovery platforms, including HBO Max and Eurosport, as well as other EBU national broadcasters. Additional international viewers should check local Olympic broadcasters for live coverage details.
Some other streaming options include DIRECTV Stream, Hulu + Live TV, and FuboTV. However, it depends on availability in your region.
Team Canada Projected Olympics Lineup
Canada named a 25-player roster that includes 19 members from its 4 Nations Face-Off championship team. Sidney Crosby returns as captain and has captained Canada at two Olympics, winning both, whereas Connor McDavid will make his Olympic debut.
Here’s the projected lineup:
Forwards
- Macklin Celebrini – Connor McDavid – Tom Wilson
- Brad Marchand – Nathan MacKinnon – Nick Suzuki
- Mark Stone – Sidney Crosby – Mitch Marner
- Brandon Hagel – Bo Horvat – Sam Reinhart
Defensemen
- Devon Toews – Cale Makar
- Josh Morrissey – Colton Parayko
- Thomas Harley – Drew Doughty
Goalies
- Jordan Binnington
- Logan Thompson
- Darcy Kuemper
Team Czechia Projected Lineup
Czechia leans on David Pastrnak and a core that won gold at the 2024 worlds. Seventeen players from that championship roster return for Milan. The Czechs have an Olympic history, and they will not shy away from a fast pace.
Forwards
- Martin Necas – Tomas Hertl – David Pastrnak
- Ondrej Palat – David Kampf – Ondrej Kase
- Roman Cervenka – Lukas Sedlak – Matej Tomasek
- Matej Stransky – Radek Faksa – Dominik Kubalik
Defensemen
- Filip Hronek – Radim Simek
- Michal Kempny – Radko Gudas
- David Spacek – Jan Rutta
Goalies
- Jakub Dobes
- Lukas Dostal
- Dan Vladar
Players to Watch in Canada vs Czechia
McDavid continues to be the NHL’s most dominant offensive player in 2025-26, and so the expectations are high from him. Through 58 NHL games, he has 34 goals and 62 assists for 96 points. He ranks first in points, while sitting second in goals, so he will likely lead Canada’s offense in this game.
In Team Czechia, Pastrnak would be their top offensive weapon. In 52 NHL games, he has 22 goals and 49 assists for 71 points. He ranks sixth in NHL scoring, but it’s going to be a fresh tally in the Olympics, and he is certainly no less than anybody.
This opener could set the tone for the entire tournament.
