This article was originally published in September when the schedule was first released. After a request in our live chat yesterday, we’re pushing it to the top again.
The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) released the schedule for the 2018 Olympic Men’s Hockey tournament in Pyeongchang, South Korea today, and as expected the games will go from February 14th to 25th—though, because of the time difference North America will be watching the gold medal game late on the 24th. The first matchups will be Slovakia vs Russia and USA vs Slovenia, both games featuring Group B opponents.
The host South Korean team will make their Olympic debut on February 15th against the Czech Republic, while reigning champion Team Canada starts against Switzerland, a team that has given them quite a bit of trouble on the international stage in the past. The entire schedule is listed below, all times Central.
February 14th
Slovakia vs OAR – 6:10am
USA vs Slovenia – 6:10am
Finland vs Germany – 9:10pm
February 15th
Sweden vs Norway – 1:40am
Czech Republic vs South Korea – 6:10am
Canada vs Switzerland – 6:10am
USA vs Slovakia – 9:10pm
February 16th
OAR vs Slovenia – 1:40am
Finland vs Norway – 6:10am
Sweden vs Germany – 6:10am
Canada vs Czech Republic – 9:10pm
February 17th
Switzerland vs South Korea – 1:40am
USA vs OAR – 6:10am
Slovakia vs Slovenia – 6:10am
Germany vs Norway – 9:10pm
February 18th
Czech Republic vs Switzerland – 1:40am
Canada vs South Korea – 6:10am
Sweden vs Finland – 6:10am
February 19th
TBD Playoff – 9:10pm
February 20th
TBD Playoff – 1:40am
TBD Playoff – 6:10am
TBD Playoff – 6:10am
TBD Quarterfinal – 9:10pm
February 21st
TBD Quarterfinal – 1:40am
TBD Quarterfinal – 6:10am
TBD Quarterfinal – 6:10am
February 23rd
TBD Semifinal – 1:40am
TBD Semifinal – 6:10am
February 24th
TBD Bronze Medal Game – 6:10am
TBD Gold Medal Game – 10:10pm
A few things to remember about these Games. One, the NHL will not be sending players to compete in the tournament, including all those in the minor leagues signed to two-way contracts. AHL-only deals will be allowed to go, as will those playing abroad. Two, the NHL trade deadline is set for February 26th, giving teams a bit of time to sign any international players and still have them eligible for the playoffs.
The IIHF also released the Women’s hockey schedule, a tournament that may actually get a boost from the lack of NHL presence at the Games. The Canadian team has won four straight gold medals and should be a powerhouse once again. They will however be without long-time leader Hayley Wickenheiser, who retired from the sport this January. Team USA will try to follow their impressive overtime win at the World Championships in April with another gold medal; they won the inaugural women’s tournament in the 1998 Nagano Games. The schedule for their tournament is as follows:
February 10th
Sweden vs Japan – 1:40am
Korea vs Switzerland – 6:10am
February 11th
USA vs Finland – 1:40am
OAR vs Canada – 6:10am
February 12th
Japan vs Switzerland – 1:40am
Korea vs Sweden – 6:10am
February 13th
Finland vs Canada – 1:40am
OAR vs USA – 6:10am
Switzerland vs Sweden – 9:10pm
February 14th
Japan vs Korea – 1:40am
Canada vs USA – 9:10pm
February 15th
Finland vs OAR – 1:40am
February 16th
TBD Quarterfinal – 9:10pm
February 17th
TBD Quarterfinal – 1:40am
TBD Placement – 9:10pm
February 18th
TBD Placement – 1:40am
TBD Semifinal – 10:10pm
February 19th
TBD Semifinal – 6:10am
TBD 7th Place Game – 10:10pm
February 20th
TBD 5th Place Game – 1:40am
February 21st
TBD Bronze Medal Game – 1:40am
TBD Gold Medal Game – 10:10pm
Can we get one for the women’s tourney too?
I’ve added the Women’s schedule to the bottom of the article.
Thank you!
Why does the women’s tournament even have 8 teams? the top 4 in the world play each other in Canada, US, OAR and Finland. it’s a tournament meant to get thatvas the final four again.