MILAN — Day 16 of the Milan Cortina Games is also its last, and all eyes will be on the gold-medal grudge match between Canada and the United States for men’s hockey supremacy.
The Canadians and the Americans will rekindle their heated rivalry, most recently played out in last year’s 4 Nation Face-Off tournament where Canada emerged victorious. Canada has beaten the U.S. for Olympic gold in 2002 and 2010 with NHL players, and the Americans have not won gold at the Games since Lake Placid in 1980.
Canada may be without the services of captain and Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby, while Winnipeg Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey is confirmed to be out with an upper-body injury. The Americans beat Slovakia 6-2 to reach the finals while Canada squeaked by Finland 3-2. Neither team has lost a game at the Olympic tournament heading into the final.
The final day will also see two Canadians fight for podium finishes in the women’s freeski halfpipe, which was postponed a day due to bad conditions at Livigno Snow Park. Rachael Kraker and Amy Fraser will both compete in the event, but veteran and 2022 silver medallist Cassie Sharpe will not participate after suffering a concussion on a nasty fall during qualifying.
There is also Canadian content in the men’s four-man bobsled finals, where Taylor Austin will pilot one of two Canadian squads in the final day of the competition. Austin’s team sits in 14th place after the first two heats, while another piloted by former Canadian Football League defensive back Jay Dearborn sits 19th.
Finally, the Games will take its curtain call by holding its closing ceremony, set to be held at the Verona Olympic Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheatre and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The ceremony will gather athletes from more than 90 countries to celebrate and bid farewell to the Games, where Canada has won 20 medals — including five golds — entering the last day of action.
Speedskater Valérie Maltais and short track speedskater Steven Dubois have been named Canada’s flag-bearers for the closing ceremonies.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 22, 2026.
The Canadian Press
