With the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina inching closer, the buzz around the Games is already building. But perhaps nothing is fueling that anticipation more than the long-awaited return of NHL players to Olympic ice. For the first time since Sochi 2014, hockey’s biggest stars will once again represent their countries on the sport’s grandest stage.
Recognizing just how special that moment is, the NHL is preparing a unique send-off to match the occasion. According to a report from Sports Business Journal, the league will host a Super Bowl-style media day in February at the New York Islanders’ UBS Arena. Much like the NFL’s famed “Opening Night,” the event will be open to the public, with players and coaches taking center stage on the arena floor before they make the trip to Italy.
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The spectacle will serve as hockey’s Olympic curtain-raiser, giving fans one last chance to see their favorite stars before they head overseas. With more than 150 NHL players expected to participate in the 2026 Games, the league’s Long Island send-off is designed to set the tone — both celebrating the moment and reminding fans just how monumental the return of NHL talent is to Olympic competition.
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