With the preliminary round of the 2026 Winter Olympic men’s hockey tournament now in the rearview mirror, the stakes are about to get real. The qualifier round begins February 17, and from here on out, it’s win or go home.
For the Vancouver Canucks’ Olympic contingent, that means six of their seven representatives are heading into do-or-die territory. The lone exception?
Kevin Lankinen, who helped backstop Finland straight into the quarter-finals.
Let’s break down what’s ahead for the rest of the Canucks’ players in the elimination round - and which matchups could shape the road to a medal.
Germany vs. France - 3:10 a.m. PT
This one kicks off the qualifier round, and while neither team boasts a deep NHL roster, Germany brings a bit more firepower to the table. With Leon Draisaitl, Tim Stützle, Moritz Seider, and JJ Peterka leading the charge, there’s enough high-end talent here to make some noise.
Canucks fans will want to keep an eye on Lukas Reichel, who’s representing Germany and just notched his first Olympic goal in a tough 4-3 loss to Latvia. That’s the kind of confidence boost that can carry over into elimination play. On the other side, France is led by Alexandre Texier of the Montréal Canadiens, but they’ll need more than just his scoring touch to get past Germany.
The winner of this matchup advances to face Slovakia in the quarter-finals on February 18.
Czechia vs. Denmark - 7:40 a.m. PT
Two Canucks - Filip Hronek and David Kämpf - will suit up for Czechia in this one, and both have been key contributors so far. But Czechia’s tournament hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.
It started with a rough 5-0 loss to powerhouse Canada, and while they bounced back with a 6-3 win over France, that game was closer than the score suggests. A 4-3 overtime loss to Switzerland capped off a frustrating group stage.
Still, the Czechs have the talent and experience to flip the switch now that the elimination rounds are here. Denmark, meanwhile, will look to play spoiler - but they’ll need to find a way to contain a Czech team that’s looking to redeem itself.
Whoever comes out on top will get a rematch-worthy showdown with Team Canada in the quarters.
Sweden vs. Latvia - 12:10 p.m. PT
This one’s got extra intrigue for Canucks fans - because no matter what happens, at least one Vancouver player is heading home after this game.
Elias Pettersson is suiting up for Sweden, while Teddy Blueger and Anri Ravinskis are on the Latvian side. Sweden had a solid group stage, winning two of three games despite a 4-1 loss to Finland. Pettersson has looked sharp, and Sweden’s overall structure and depth make them a tough out.
Latvia, meanwhile, has had an up-and-down run. They dropped two of their three games but pulled off a gritty 4-3 win over Germany - a result that helped punch their ticket to the qualifiers. If Blueger and Ravinskis can help Latvia find another gear, this could be a closer game than expected.
The winner of this matchup will face a loaded Team USA squad in the quarter-finals - a team that already beat Latvia 5-1 earlier in the tournament.
Qualifier and Quarter-Final Schedule (All Times PT)
- Germany vs. France - February 17, 3:10 a.m. *Winner faces Slovakia - February 18, 3:10 a.m. *
- **Switzerland vs.
Italy** - February 17, 3:10 a.m.
- *Winner faces Finland - February 18, 9:10 a.m.
- Czechia vs. Denmark - February 17, 7:40 a.m. *Winner faces Canada - February 18, 7:40 a.m. *
- **Sweden vs.
Latvia** - February 17, 12:10 p.m.
- *Winner faces USA - February 18, 12:10 p.m.
With the field narrowing and the pressure ratcheting up, this next round will separate the contenders from the pretenders. For the six Canucks still in the hunt, it’s a chance to step up under the Olympic spotlight - and maybe even set the stage for a run at gold.