Hockey is set to be a highlight at the Winter Olympics, with NHL players returning for the first time since 2014 and top women’s players competing for the eighth time. The main arena will feature smaller ice than NHL players are used to. North American teams are the ones to beat, with stars like Sidney Crosby and Hilary Knight aiming for gold. Russia is barred from hockey due to the war in Ukraine, sidelining top players like Alex Ovechkin.
NHL Players Return To Winter Olympics
January 8, 2026 4:31 am