On Thursday, Team USA hockey begins its quest for gold, looking to bring home the medal for the first time since 1980.
As NHL players make their return to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, the U.S. has one of the most talented rosters it’s ever assembled. Mike Sullivan’s team has talent, scoring depth, elite goaltending and guys that will do the dirty work needed to go through a long stretch. Now, it’s time for the squad to prove how far U.S. hockey has come.
The journey starts against Latvia, a team that isn’t projected to finish high in the tournament. But, the team might be overlooked; with six NHL players on the roster and a potential top-10 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Moreover, there is recent history with these teams, with Latvia defeating the U.S. in the 2023 IIHF World Championship third-place game to claim their first ever medal in major men’s hockey.
Both teams have a chance to start something special in Milan on Thursday. For the U.S., it can propel a run to the gold medal, and for Latvia, it would be one of the biggest upsets in history to continue the rise of Latvian hockey.
Here’s where you can find the contest on television and streaming.
MORE 2026 OLYMPICS: Live medal tracker | Viewer’s guide | Day-by-day schedule
What channel is USA vs. Latvia hockey on today?
- TV channel: USA Network
- Live stream: Peacock
Team USA’s first game against Latvia will be broadcast nationally on USA Network. Those looking to live stream the game can via Peacock, which serves as the streaming home of the Games.
Peacock will carry every event of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics live. The NBC-owned streaming service’s sports programming features live coverage of NFL Sunday Night Football, the NBA, the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Premier League soccer, Big Ten football and basketball, Notre Dame football, Big East and Big 12 basketball, PGA Tour golf, and more.
What time is USA vs. Latvia hockey today?
- Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
- Time: 3:10 p.m. ET
Both teams’ Olympic campaigns start on Thursday, Feb. 12 at 3:10 p.m.
It is being held at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, which is the centerpiece for the tournament.
USA Olympic men’s hockey schedule
Team USA enters Group C of the 2026 Winter Olympics as a heavy favorite. All of their preliminary round games follow a consistent schedule for fans in the United States, with puck drop set for 3:10 PM ET.
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Venue | Broadcast |
| Thursday, Feb. 12 | Latvia | 3:10 PM | Santagiulia Arena | USA Network / Peacock |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | Denmark | 3:10 PM | Santagiulia Arena | USA Network / Peacock |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | Germany | 3:10 PM | Santagiulia Arena | USA Network / Peacock |
If Team USA wins their group or finishes as the top second-place team, they will likely bypass the Qualification Playoff and head straight to the Quarterfinals.
| Round | Date | Time (ET) | Broadcast |
| Qualification Playoff | Tuesday, Feb. 17 | TBD | Peacock / USA Network |
| Quarterfinals | Wednesday, Feb. 18 | TBD | Peacock / NBC / USA Network |
| Semifinals | Friday, Feb. 20 | 10:40 AM / 3:10 PM | Peacock / NBC / USA Network |
| Bronze Medal Game | Saturday, Feb. 21 | 2:40 PM | Peacock / USA Network |
| Gold Medal Game | Sunday, Feb. 22 | 8:10 AM | Peacock / NBC |
USA Olympic men’s hockey roster
| Name | Team |
| Connor Hellebuyck | Winnipeg Jets |
| Jake Oettinger | Dallas Stars |
| Jeremy Swayman | Boston Bruins |
| Quinn Hughes | Vancouver Canucks |
| Charlie McAvoy (A) | Boston Bruins |
| Zach Werenski | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| Jaccob Slavin | Carolina Hurricanes |
| Brock Faber | Minnesota Wild |
| Jake Sanderson | Ottawa Senators |
| Noah Hanifin | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Jackson LaCombe | Anaheim Ducks |
| Auston Matthews (C) | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| Matthew Tkachuk (A) | Florida Panthers |
| Brady Tkachuk | Ottawa Senators |
| Jack Hughes | New Jersey Devils |
| Jack Eichel | Vegas Golden Knights |
| Dylan Larkin | Detroit Red Wings |
| Tage Thompson | Buffalo Sabres |
| Kyle Connor | Winnipeg Jets |
| J.T. Miller | Vancouver Canucks |
| Matt Boldy | Minnesota Wild |
| Jake Guentzel | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| Clayton Keller | Utah Mammoth |
| Vincent Trocheck | New York Rangers |
| Brock Nelson | New York Islanders |
USA Olympic men’s hockey coaching staff
| Name | Role | Team |
| Mike Sullivan | Head coach | New York Rangers |
| John Hynes | Assistant coach | Minnesota Wild |
| David Quinn | Assistant coach | New York Rangers |
| John Tortorella | Assistant coach | — |
| Bill Guerin | General manager | Minnesota Wild |
