NHL Stars Set to Shine on Olympic Ice for the First Time Since 2014

At least one player from each NHL team will participate as a dozen countries compete in Italy. But don’t look for Russians.
NHL Stars Set to Shine on Olympic Ice for the First Time Since 2014
The rink inside the Milano Santagiulia arena ahead of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Feb. 2, 2026. Maja Hitij/Getty Images
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The National Hockey League schedule is officially on hiatus until Feb. 25.

On Thursday, at 9:46 p.m. PST, when the buzzer sounded ending the game between the hometown Vegas Golden Knights and the Los Angeles Kings at T-Mobile Arena, the NHL Olympic break was on. As the 18,020 fans began dispersing, several skaters and goalies were packing for flights headed to Milano Cortina, Italy. Lights were turned out in team locker rooms all around the NHL until games resume.

Donald Laible
Donald Laible
Author
Don has covered pro baseball for several decades, beginning in the minor leagues as a radio broadcaster in the NY Mets organization. His Ice Chips & Diamond Dust blog ran from 2012-2020 at uticaod.com. His baseball passion surrounds anything concerning the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and writing features on the players and staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Don currently resides in southwest Florida.