Finland won its fifth medal in the six Olympics that have included NHL players (silver in 2006; bronze in 1998, 2010, 2014, 2026), the most of any country. Canada (gold in 2002, 2010, 2014) will have the second most with four after it plays the United States in the gold medal game Sunday (8:10 a.m. ET; Peacock, NBC, ICI Tele, CBC Gem, CBC, SN [JIP], TSN [JIP], RDS).
Finland won its first gold medal in men’s ice hockey at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, which did not include NHL players. This is the first Olympics with NHL players since the 2014 Sochi Games.
“This is a pretty big deal to win Olympic bronze, especially in a tournament like this where every nation has their best players,” Armia said. “So, for sure, it’s a special team.”
After winning its first Olympic medal in men’s ice hockey with a bronze in Beijing, Slovakia matched its best finish in an Olympics with NHL players. It also finished fourth at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, where it lost to Finland in the bronze medal game.
“I think being fourth and being last is the same thing,” forward Juraj Slafkovsky said. “You don’t get a medal, so it [stinks].”