The Winter Olympics have long been the highest stage for international ice hockey. And right now, the spotlight is on the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, where men’s ice hockey begins on Feb. 11. The tournament marks the return of NHL players for the first time since 2014, adding extra weight to a gold medal run.
The 2026 tournament will feature 12 teams playing three group-stage games before advancing to a single-elimination playoff. The gold medal game is scheduled for Feb. 22. Games will be held at Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena and Rho Ice Hockey Arena in Milan.
Since the sport’s Olympic debut in 1920, gold medals have shaped legacies and fueled rivalries between hockey nations. From Canada’s early dominance to the rise of the Soviet Union and the modern NHL era, Olympic hockey reflects how the global game has evolved.
With another Olympic tournament approaching, here is a look at every country that has won men’s ice hockey gold medals at the Winter Olympics.
Gold Medal Winners (Most Recent to Oldest)
2022 Beijing – Finland
Finland won its first Olympic gold with structure and patience, with the team relying on structure and good goaltending. Finland finished the job after years of close calls, and Miro Aaltonen, Markus Granlund, and Teemu Hartikainen played.
2018 PyeongChang – Olympic Athletes from Russia
With NHL players absent, Olympic Athletes from Russia won the 2018 gold. They played under a neutral flag after Russia’s suspension. Despite doping sanctions affecting two athletes, the team captured the men’s hockey title in PyeongChang. Kirill Kaprizov, Ilya Sorokin, and Pavel Datsyuk played in that Olympic run.
2014 Sochi – Canada
Canada dominated the ice in Russia, and this was the last time NHL players played. Sidney Crosby, Drew Doughty, John Tavares, Jonathan Toews, and Carey Price led a deep roster, and Canada won every game convincingly.
2010 Vancouver – Canada
The gold-medal game ended with Crosby’s famous overtime winner. Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews, Patrice Bergeron, Corey Perry, and Chris Pronger anchored the roster. The final against the United States remains one of hockey’s biggest moments.
2006 Turin – Sweden
Sweden balanced defense and skill to claim gold, Canada exited early, and Sidney Crosby’s snub created a big controversy. Mats Sundin, Peter Forsberg, and Henrik Lundqvist stood out. Sweden defeated Finland 3-2 in the final with Nicklas Lidstrom scoring the winning goal, securing gold.
Here are Other Olympic Winners From 2002 to 1920:
- 2002 Salt Lake City – Canada
- 1998 Nagano – Czech Republic
- 1994 Lillehammer – Sweden
- 1992 Albertville – Unified Team
- 1988 Calgary – Soviet Union
- 1984 Sarajevo – Soviet Union
- 1980 Lake Placid – United States
- 1976 Innsbruck – Soviet Union
- 1972 Sapporo – Soviet Union
- 1968 Grenoble – Soviet Union
- 1964 Innsbruck – Soviet Union
- 1960 Squaw Valley – United States
- 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo – Soviet Union
- 1952 Oslo – Canada
- 1948 St. Moritz – Canada
- 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen – Great Britain
- 1932 Lake Placid – Canada
- 1928 St. Moritz – Canada
- 1924 Chamonix – Canada
- 1920 Antwerp – Canada
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