Five things to watch at the Milan Cortina Games on Sunday, Feb. 22

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This article was published 21/02/2026 (204 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MILAN – From the gold medal game in men’s hockey to the closing ceremony, here are five things to watch Sunday at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

HOCKEY GOLD

The Olympic final that many hockey fans wanted is set: Canada will play the United States for the big one at the Milan Cortina Games. The U.S. routed Slovakia 6-2 in the semifinals, while Canada needed a late goal to get past Finland 3-2. The North American rivals will meet on Sunday for the title, a year after they played two memorable games against each other at the 4 Nations Face-Off. The U.S. men last reached the Olympic final in 2010, when they lost to Canada in overtime on Sidney Crosby’s famous golden goal. They haven’t won it all since 1980 in Lake Placid following the “Miracle on Ice,” while Canada last took the top prize in 2014.

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THE GOLDEN STONE

Switzerland will go up against Sweden in the women’s curling final. Swedish skip Anna Hasselborg trumped Rachel Homan’s Canadian crew on Friday, guaranteeing a third straight medal at the games for Hasselborg and a sixth consecutive podium finish for the Swedes. Homan and her Ottawa-based rink of Tracy Fleury, Emma Miskew and Sarah Wilkes nabbed bronze on Saturday, beating American skip Tabitha Peterson 10-7.

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WEATHER DELAY

The women’s freeski halfpipe final gets an early start after being postponed a day due to bad conditions at Livigno Snow Park. The call to move the event came after star Canadian freestyle skier Reece Howden fiercely criticized the conditions during the men’s ski cross. Howden said snow slowed the course down and made passing difficult. Canadians Rachael Karker and Amy Fraser will compete in the final. Cassie Sharpe, who won gold in the event in 2014 and silver in 2022, also qualified but will not take part after sustaining a concussion during qualifying.

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CLOSING THE GAMES

The Olympics closing ceremony, where athletes from more than 90 countries will say arrivederci to the Games, kicks off at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Verona Olympic Arena. Held in an ancient Roman amphitheatre, the event marks the first time the ceremony will take place at a UNESCO World Heritage site. The theme for the event is “Beauty in Action,” conceived as an ode to “the unity of sport, art and beauty,” according to the International Olympic Committee.

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SLEIGHS OF GLORY

Sliders take to the bobsled track for the final day of competition. Two dozen four-man teams from 16 countries — Jamaica, Brazil and Israel, included — will careen for the men’s podium in two heats. Taylor Austin will pilot one of two Canadian squads, with his crew currently sitting in 14th. Powerhouse Germany occupies the top three spots, led by Johannes Lochner.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 21, 2026.