2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
Qualification Game 1: Germany (6) vs. France (11)
How to watch
Start time: 6:10 AM EDT / 12:10 PM CET
In Canada: Sportsnet (English) ICI Télé (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem, Sportsnet+
Winner’s quarter-final opponent: Slovakia (3)
It seems like Germany’s star players have spent as much time arguing with each other as actually playing hockey, believing they can perform better than scoring just seven goals through three games. Today they take on Team France which allowed the most goals, 20, of any team at the Olympics, so Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, and company will hope it’s a less frustrating day as the elimination portion of the tournament begins.
Qualification Game 2: Switzerland (5) vs. Italy (12)
How to watch
Start time: 6:10 AM EDT / 12:10 PM CET
In Canada: TSN (English) ICI Télé (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem, TSN
Winner’s quarter-final opponent: Finland (4)
Switzerland won a big matchup versus Czechia on the final day of the preliminary round to no only finish second in Group A, but get what should be the easiest opponent, the host Italians, in the qualification round by ranking as the fifth-best team. Considering the Swiss were drawn into the same group as Canada, that’s a notable feat. They played Canada well in their only loss, keeping things tighter than the 5-1 loss suggests, and a similar effort should see them easily move on to play Finland tomorrow.
Qualification Game 3: Czechia (8) vs. Denmark (9)
How to watch
Start time: 10:40 AM EDT / 4:40 PM CET
In Canada: Sportsnet (English) ICI Télé (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem, Sportsnet+
Winner’s quarter-final opponent: Canada (1)
On paper this is the most even matchup of the day between the eighth and ninth seeds. Czechia will be disappointed with the overtime loss to Switzerland that put them in this position and will translate that into its effort today. Denmark will be feeling confident after a win over Latvia in its last game, and will try to turn that into an upset over one of the top rosters in the tournament.
Qualification Game 4: Sweden (7) vs. Latvia (10)
How to watch
Start time: 3:10 PM EDT / 9:10 PM CET
In Canada: ICI Télé (French)
Streaming: CBC Gem
Winner’s quarter-final opponent: United States (2)
Sweden was regarded by many as the favourite to win bronze this year, even with a number of injuries leading up to the tournament. But a 4-1 loss to Finland after Slovakia beat the Finns in the first game of the competition dropped Sweden all the way to third in Group B. They are out of place as the seventh seed after the preliminary round, and you have to expect that they’ll prove that today. Latvia isn’t just going to hand them a quarter-final spot, however, so what is already a tough route to the medal round with Team USA waiting to challenge today’s victor only gets that much more difficult versus a hard-working Latvian squad.
