MILAN (AP) — The long wait for the world’s best hockey players to take the field at an international tournament has lived up to expectations.
Four of the seven games in the Milan Cortina Olympic knockout tournament went to overtime, with the United States beating Canada in a fast-paced, back-and-forth final for the gold medal. As the NHL returns to the Olympics after a decade-long drought, the sport is gaining traction.
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“This is as good as it gets,” U.S. forward Vincent Trocheck said. “They have to keep doing it.”
That’s the plan.
The league, federation and International Ice Hockey Federation have reached an agreement to compete in the 2030 French Alps, pending an agreement being finalized with the International Olympic Committee. But the next opportunity for a best-of-nation showdown isn’t too far away: the Hockey World Cup is scheduled for February 2028.
The NHL and NHLPA are in lockstep on many issues, including the goal of establishing an international schedule of such events every other year. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) is also involved.
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“From an NHL/NHLPA perspective, the hockey world is in a better place when the Players Association and the league work together, and internationally when those three organizations work together, the hockey world is in a better place,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “This gives us an opportunity to grow the sport in places where we don’t have the same strength as in North America and we look forward to continuing to work with (IIHF president Luke Tardif) to grow the sport. That’s our goal and the more we can do together, the better it will be for everyone.”
This is the sixth Olympic Games to feature NHL players since Nagano hosted the event in 1998. The absence of 2018 and the derailment of 2022 due to the pandemic has left many Milanese regretting the situation – but in a way, the absence has made the experience all the better.
“It’s been a long time since we last played,” Canadian defender Drew Doughty said. “Wish it had never happened like this, but it is what it is.”
The United States won men’s hockey gold at the NHL Olympics for the first time, ending Canada’s streak of two consecutive titles and three gold medals in the past four Olympics. It was the country’s first tournament since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, although the only magical part of the tournament was American Connor Hellebuyck putting on one of the best goaltending performances in international hockey history.
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“He’s our best player,” said Jack Hughes after scoring the golden goal in overtime, after being hit in the face with a stick and missing a tooth or two earlier in the game.
Hughes’ goal, which came less than two minutes into three-on-three overtime, is probably the most criticized thing about Milan and should change the direction going forward — at least in the gold medal game, and possibly in the World Cup hosted by the NHL and NHLPA.
Canada head coach Jon Cooper said the NHL playoffs, which feature 3-on-3 games at 5-on-5, “are not hockey anymore.”
“Overtime and shootouts are done for a reason: the end of the game is televised, so it’s not that long,” Cooper said of the way the league’s games are settled during the regular season. “There’s a reason there’s no (3-on-3) in the Stanley Cup Finals or the playoffs.”
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There were no complaints from the winning side’s players until the champagne and beer started flowing after Team USA’s win.
“Right now, I think it’s great,” said Brock Nelson.
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AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics