The men's hockey tournament at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 began Wednesday with Team Slovakia defeating Team Finland, followed by Team Sweden defeating host Team Italy.

Raymond debuts as Sweden narrowly escapes underdog Italy's spirited challenge. Dominant shots mask offensive struggles in a tense Olympic opening victory.

In the end, Team Italy lost to Team Sweden 5-2 at Santagiulia Arena on Wednesday in the first of three preliminary games for each team at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The result was expected.

Wennberg and Sweden won the bronze medal at last year’s worlds in Stockholm, but a gold medal has been elusive. Now, 20 years after he saw Lidstrom’s winning goal against Finland as an 11-year-old, Wennberg has an opportunity to accomplish the same thing.

Italy opens up the tournament against the Swedes on Wednesday in the biggest David vs. Goliath matchup in the preliminaries.

Canucks' Kevin Lankinen and Finland lost 4-1 to Slovakia, while Elias Pettersson and Sweden won 5-2 against Italy in their first games of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Some saw it as a ground-breaking moment for transgender athletes when freestyle skier Elis Lundholm competed at the Winter Olympics. As for Lundholm? He’s just focused on the sport.

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo blazed to his second victory at the Milan Cortina Games in the cross-country sprint Tuesday to win his seventh Olympic gold medal.