Swiss ice hockey players entered the Olympic tournament in Milan victoriously.
12.02.2026 19:09 , updated: 20:35
Photo: Just Pictures, Just Pictures GmbH / Alamy / Profimedia
Connor McDavid in action in front of the Czech goal.
“Helvetii” in the position of favorites beat the players of France 4:0 in the A-group meeting. The Swiss striker Timo Meier scored two goals, the goalkeeper Leonardo Genoni neutralized all 27 shots of the opponent.
In the second appearance on Friday from 9:10 p.m., Switzerland will face the favored Canada. France will meet the Czech Republic on the same day (4:20 p.m.).
We pay attention Hockey at the 2026 Olympics. Everything in one place
Olympic Games in Milan, A-group
Switzerland – France 4:0 (2:0, 0:0, 2:0)
Goals: 1. Riat (Andrighetto, Kurashev), 4. Moser (Fora), 51. Meier (Josi, Kukan), 57. Meier (Moser, Fiala). Referees: Pochmara (USA), Schrader (Germany) – Davis, Murray (both USA), expulsions: 4:5 for 2 min., power plays: 1:0, weaknesses: 0:0, 10,627 spectators
Switzerland: Genoni – Josi, Glauser, Siegenthaler, Kukan, Moser, Fora, Marti – Fiala, Hischier, Thürkauf – Andrighetto, Malgin, Niederreiter – Kurashev, Suter, Meier – Riat, Jäger, Bertschy – S. Schmid
France: Keller – Boscq, Gallet, Chakiachvili, Cantagallo, Crinon, Guebey, Thiry – S. Treille, Addamo, Douay – Texier, Da Costa, Bertrand – Perret, Bellemare, Fabre – Bozon, Boudon, Rech – Dair
The Swiss had an excellent start to the match. For the first time in the tournament, they prevailed after only 55 seconds, when Damien Riat used a power play.
The two-goal lead was secured by “Helvét” in the 4th minute by defender Janis Moser. The middle part of the game was fragmented also due to the impact of exclusions.
The French threw away two numerous advantages, and the Swiss, who were under pressure, did not use three opportunities to score in the power play, but the French blocked shots well and kept their hope for points alive.
It wasn’t until the 51st minute that the opponent’s resistance was finally broken by winger Meier, who six minutes later added the second accurate shot of the match.
Canada’s ice hockey players beat the Czech Republic 5:0 in the opening match of both teams at the 2026 Olympic Games in Milan. The duel was under the control of the players, and although the Czechs also got promising chances several times, the favored overseas team was able to confirm the superiority of the game with goals.
Both teams will start their next match already on Friday, February 13. Czechs will face the French at 4:40 p.m., the Canadians will play against Switzerland at 9:10 p.m.
Czech Republic – Canada 0:5 (0:1, 0:2, 0:5)
Goals: 20. Celebrini (Makar, McDavid), 27. Stone (Marner, Crosby), 38. Horvat (Marchand, Harley), 48. MacKinnon (McDavid, Crosby), 54. Suzuki (McDavid, Harley). Referees: M. Holm (Sweden), McCauley – Cherrey (both Kan.), Briganti (USA), expulsions: 2:1 for 2 min., power plays: 0:1, weakness: 0:0, 11,451 spectators.
Czech Republic: Dostal – Hronek, Šimek, Gudas, Kempný, Rutta, Špaček, Kundrátek – Nečas, Hertl, Pastrňák – Kaše, Kämpf, Palát – Tomášek, Sedlák, Červenka – Stránský, Faksa, Kubalík – Flek
You have: Binnington – Makar, Toews, Parayko, Morrissey, Dougthy, Harley, Theodore – Wilson, McDavid, Celebrini – Suzuki, MacKinnon, Hagel – Stone, Crosby, Marner – Reinhart, Horvat, Marchand – Bennett
The Canadians tried to go on the offensive from the beginning, but for a long time they could not overcome goalkeeper Dostál. He supported his team even during the weakening after the dismissal of Sedlák.
The Czechs were especially threatening with breaks, and the Canadian goalkeeper Binnington had to be careful. The favorite took the lead with a goal “to the locker room,” which Celebrini took care of when he deflected Makar’s shot – 1:0.
The Czechs continued to try to keep up with the opponent, but the opponent showed a confident performance and tried to play with the puck as much as possible.
In the 27th minute, Canada’s second goal was added by Stone, who used a pass from Marner. The overseas team definitively decided on their victory with the third goal, which was taken care of by Horvat after a pass by Marchand and an escape – 3:0.
The Canadians had the game under control, successfully countered the offensive efforts of the Czech Republic and in the 48th minute punished Kubalík’s expulsion. The cooperation of the offensive stars was ended by MacKinnon from close range after passes from McDavid and Crosby – 0:4.
In the 54th minute, Suzuki was also on the scoresheet, gently deflecting the puck from McDavid at close range – 0:5.
votes /source: IIHF/:
Mitch Marner, forward of Canada: “It was a good first step for us. Jordan Binnington was brilliant throughout the game. His save against David Kämpf’s chance was important and kept the score 0-0.”
Nathan MacKinnon, forward of Canada: “The goalkeeper Jordan Binnington was amazing. He made some great saves. He also made it 0-0 for a long time, but then we kicked on.”
Roman Červenka, striker and captain of the Czech Republic: “Canada has an incredible team that played really well. We tried to do our best, but we didn’t take advantage of our scoring chances. It’s hard to win when you don’t score goals. Lukáš Dostál kept us going with a lot of important saves.”
date:2026-02-12 20:15:00
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