Canada clinches silver in men’s ice hockey at 2026 Winter Olympics

By Nash Villena, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
February 22, 2026

(Photo courtesy: Team Canada/Facebook)

MILAN, Italy — Team Canada captured the silver medal in a heart-pounding Men’s Ice Hockey final at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Despite a dominant performance, the Canadians fell 2-1 to Team USA after Jack Hughes netted the winner in overtime.

This marks Canada’s first men’s hockey medal since 2018 and their highest Olympic finish since winning gold at Sochi 2014—the last tournament to feature NHL players.

“It sucks right now,” forward Tom Wilson told the press after the game. “We played a really solid game. We had plenty of opportunities to win. It was a great battle, obviously, a great hockey game, and it just sucks. We fell one goal short and can’t bring a gold medal home for our country. Not a good feeling right now.”

“Sometimes you play well enough to win and it doesn’t work out that way. So, give them credit. They capitalized at the end and beat us, but you know, it hurts that we played a good game. We executed the game plan and played really well. Hockey is a funny sport. That’s why it’s such a crazy sport. But it sucks,” he added.

Fellow forward Nick Suzuki said he learned many lessons from playing alongside remarkable players at the Winter Olympics and that he is proud to embody one of Canada’s national identities.

“A lot of learning lessons for me just getting a taste of playing here and being in these big games and playing with these great players. It’s been an honour for me and just trying to soak it all in, but it was a tough one today,” he said.

“I’m proud to be Canadian, proud to represent at the Olympics and proud to have best-on-best back at the Olympics,” Suzuki stressed.

(Photo courtesy: Mark Carney/Facebook)

Prime Minister Mark Carney extended his congratulations to the Canadian delegates who made a 21-medal finish, consisting of 5 golds, 7 silvers, and 9 bronzes.

“To every athlete, every coach, and every Canadian who helped make this extraordinary performance possible — thank you,” he added.

The recent silver medal now marks the 17th medal for Canada in Men’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics—the highest medal count among any country.