When do the US men's Olympic hockey team games start?
The US Men's Olympic Hockey team preliminary games start at 3:10 PM ET, competing in Group B before a single-elimination playoff.
Sylvie Vance
The initial games for the US Men's Olympic Hockey team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games are scheduled to commence on **Thursday, February 12th**, with the preliminary round slate concluding on Sunday, February 15th (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen). Specifically, the first contest against Latvia is slated for 9:10 PM local time in Milan, which translates to **3:10 PM Eastern Time (ET)** in North America. This rapid deployment into the tournament structure, featuring all 12 teams moving directly into a single-elimination playoff bracket after the preliminary games, signals the high stakes immediately following the opening puck drop (https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule).
### What are the specific dates and times for the US Men's preliminary round games?
The US Men's team is set to compete in Group B of the tournament, facing three opponents across three consecutive days in the preliminary schedule (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen). Because the tournament is held in Milan, Italy, understanding the 6-hour time difference between Milan (CET/CEST) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is crucial for American fans tracking the action.
The confirmed schedule for the US preliminary games is as follows:
* **Game 1 vs. Latvia:** Tuesday, February 17th, with a local start time of 9:10 PM, translating to **3:10 PM ET** (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen). *Note: This date appears inconsistent between sources, referencing both Feb 12 and Feb 17 for the first game; however, the USA Hockey site lists the preliminary games commencing on the 17th after an initial tournament start date of Feb 11* (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen, https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule).
* **Game 2 vs. Denmark (Home Team designation 'H'):** Saturday, February 14th, scheduled for 9:10 PM local time, which is **3:10 PM ET** (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen).
* **Game 3 vs. Germany (Home Team designation 'H'):** Sunday, February 15th, scheduled for 9:10 PM local time, again resulting in a **3:10 PM ET** start time (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen).
The early afternoon start times for North American viewers provide an excellent opportunity for high engagement without competing directly against typical evening sports broadcasts.
### Which group is the US Men's team slotted into, and who are the key preliminary opponents?
The US Men's National Team is positioned in **Group B** for the preliminary round of the 2026 Olympic Men’s Tournament (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen). The preliminary structure requires each of the 12 participating nations to play three games within their assigned group (https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule).
The three opponents the US will face are:
1. **Latvia:** A traditionally strong European competitor that often punches above its weight in international tournaments.
2. **Denmark:** Providing a different style of play, these games test the US team's ability to adapt quickly to varied systems.
3. **Germany:** A robust, physical team that has demonstrated significant growth in international play over the last decade.
Successfully navigating this group is paramount, as the tournament structure is unforgiving: all 12 teams advance to a single-elimination playoff round regardless of their preliminary standing (https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule).
### What is the format of the 2026 Olympic hockey tournament, and how do preliminary results affect the playoff path?
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics marks the highly anticipated return of National Hockey League (NHL) players to the Olympic stage, a significant factor impacting the competitive balance of the tournament (https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule). The format is designed to maximize drama and testing through a compressed schedule.
The tournament structure involves two primary phases:
1. **Preliminary Round:** All 12 teams play three games within their respective groups (Group A, B, and C). Unlike some previous iterations, all teams advance from this stage (https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule).
2. **Single-Elimination Playoff:** Following the preliminaries, the bracket seeding determines the path forward. Teams are seeded 1 through 12, leading directly into a knockout stage that includes Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the medal games (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmenschedule).
The outcome of the preliminary games is essential not for qualification, but for **seeding**. A strong preliminary record, particularly high-scoring wins, can secure a better seeding, potentially leading to an easier path through the initial playoff rounds and avoiding a top-tier rival until later in the competition. The Gold Medal Game is scheduled for Sunday, February 22nd (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmenschedule).
### What is the historical context of US Men's Olympic Hockey performance influencing current expectations?
Understanding the historical context deepens the appreciation for the current team's mission, especially given the previous tournament's outcome. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, the US team performed strongly in the preliminary round, securing victories over Canada and eventually finishing fifth overall (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen). However, that run was ultimately cut short by a heartbreaking shootout loss to Slovakia in the quarterfinals (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen).
With the confirmed return of NHL talent for 2026, expectations shift dramatically from simply competing to contending for the gold medal. The US team, leveraging the best available North American talent, carries the expectation of challenging traditional powerhouses like Canada, Sweden, and Finland. The goal is to advance beyond the quarterfinals, which has proven to be a major sticking point for the US contingent in recent non-NHL tournaments (https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen).
### Key Takeaways
* **Start Time Confirmation:** The US Men's preliminary games are scheduled to begin at **3:10 PM ET** for their first three contests.
* **Group Strength:** Team USA competes in Group B against Latvia, Denmark, and Germany.
* **Tournament Format:** The 2026 structure features all 12 teams advancing from the preliminary round directly into a single-elimination playoff bracket.
* **High Stakes Seeding:** Preliminary results are vital for securing favorable seeding to optimize the path through the knockout stage toward the medal games.
The anticipation surrounding the 2026 Olympics is palpable, particularly with NHL participation confirmed. For fans, the US schedule provides accessible early afternoon viewing windows that allow for deep engagement with the team's quest for Olympic glory.
## Conclusion
The schedule for the US Men's Olympic Hockey team is now set, marking the official countdown to the 2026 Games in Milan-Cortina. With preliminary games starting in the mid-afternoon ET window, American fans have a prime opportunity to track the team's initial challenges against Group B opponents. As the tournament transitions rapidly from group play to a high-pressure, single-elimination format, every goal and every second will be critical. The true measure of this team’s success will not just be their starting time, but their ability to maintain momentum and overcome the quarterfinal hurdle that derailed previous attempts. The 2026 tournament promises to be a showcase of elite international hockey, and the US team’s performance will be keenly watched by a nation eager to reclaim Olympic gold.
## References
* https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmenschedule
* https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2026olympicmen
* https://www.nhl.com/news/2026-olympic-winter-games-milano-cortina-hockey-tournament-schedule