Alternative History
Ice hockey at the Olympic Games
Ice hockey pictogram
Organising body International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
Events 2 (men: 1; women: 1)
Games
  • 1920 (at the Summer Olympics)

Current champions Men's competition:
Soviet Union Soviet Union (8th title)
Women's competition:
US flag 51 stars United States (2nd title)
Most successful team(s) Men's competition:
Canada Canada (9 titles)
Women's competition:
Canada Canada (4 titles)

Ice hockey tournaments have been staged at the Olympic Games since 1920. The men's tournament was introduced at the 1920 Summer Olympics and was transferred permanently to the Winter Olympic Games program in 1924, in France. The women's tournament was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics.

The Olympic Games were originally intended for amateur athletes. However, the advent of the state-sponsored "full-time amateur athlete" of the Eastern Bloc countries further eroded the ideology of the pure amateur, as it put the self-financed amateurs of the Western countries at a disadvantage. The Soviet Union entered teams of athletes who were all nominally students, soldiers, or working in a profession, but many of whom were in reality paid by the state to train on a full-time basis. In 1986, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to allow professional athletes to compete in the Olympic Games starting in 1988.

From 1924 to 1988, the tournament started with a round-robin series of games and ended with the medal round. Medals were awarded based on points accumulated during that round. In 1992, the playoffs were introduced for the first time since 1920. In 1998, the format of the tournament was adjusted to accommodate fourteen teams. tournament format was changed again in 2006; with twelve teams divided into two groups of six. In 2010 the format was changed again, with twelve teams divided into three groups. The games of the tournament follow the rules of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), which differ slightly from the rules used in the NHL.

In the men's tournament, Canada was the most successful team of the first three decades, winning six of seven gold medals. Czechoslovakia, Sweden and the United States were also competitive during this period and won multiple medals. Between 1920 and 1968, the Olympic hockey tournament was also counted as the Ice Hockey World Championship for that year. The Soviet Union first participated in 1956 and overtook Canada as the dominant international team, winning nine gold medals, the latest in 2018. The United States won gold medals in 1960 and in 1980, which included their "Miracle on Ice" upset of the Soviet Union. Canada went 50 years without a gold medal, before winning one in 2002, and following it with back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2014. Other nations to win gold include Great Britain in 1936, Czechoslovakia in 1976 and 1998, and Sweden in 1994 and 2006. Other medal-winning nations include Switzerland, Germany, Finland and Norway.

In July 1992, the IOC voted to approve women's hockey as an Olympic event; it was first held at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano. The Nagano Organizing Committee was hesitant to include the event because of the additional costs of staging the tournament, but an agreement was reached that limited the field to six teams, and ensured that no additional facilities would be built. The Canadian and American teams have dominated the event, typically losing only to each other. The United States won the first tournament in 1998 and the most recent in 2018. Canada has won all of the other tournaments (2002–2014).

Medal winners[]

Men[]

Year Host Gold medal game Bronze medal game Teams
Gold medal Gold
medalists
Score Silver medal Silver
medalists
Bronze medal Bronze
medalists
Score 4th place
finishers
1920 Belgium
Antwerp
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (1)
Bergvall system US flag 48 stars
United States (1)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (1)
Bergvall system Flag of Sweden
Sweden
7
1924 France
Chamonix
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (2)
Round robin US flag 48 stars
United States (2)
Flag of the United Kingdom
Great Britain (1)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
8
1928 Flag of Switzerland
St. Moritz
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (3)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden (1)
Flag of Switzerland
Switzerland (1)
Round robin Flag of the United Kingdom
Great Britain
11
1932 US flag 48 stars
Lake Placid
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (4)
Round robin US flag 48 stars
United States (3)
Flag of Germany (3-2 aspect ratio)
Germany (1)
Round robin Flag of Poland (1928-1980)
Poland
4
1936 Nazi Germany
Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Flag of the United Kingdom
Great Britain (1)
Round robin Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (1)
US flag 48 stars
United States (1)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
15
No Olympic tournaments were held in 1940 and 1944 due to the outbreak of World War II (1938–1945).
1948 Flag of Switzerland
St. Moritz
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (5)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (1)
Flag of Switzerland
Switzerland (2)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
9
1952 Norway
Oslo
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (6)
Round robin US flag 48 stars
United States (4)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (2)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
9
1956 Flag of Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (1)
Round robin US flag 48 stars
United States (5)
Canadian Red Ensign 1921-1957
Canada (1)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
10
1960 US flag 49 stars
Squaw Valley
US flag 49 stars
United States (1)
Round robin Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965)
Canada (2)
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (1)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
9
1964 Austria
Innsbruck
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (2)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden (2)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (3)
Round robin Canadian Red Ensign (1957–1965)
Canada
16
1968 France
Grenoble
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (3)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (2)
Flag of Canada
Canada (2)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
14
1972 Japan
Sapporo
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (4)
Round robin Flag of the United States
United States (6)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (4)
Round robin Flag of Canada
Canada
12
1976 Austria
Innsbruck
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (5)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (3)
Flag of Germany
West Germany (2)
Round robin Flag of Canada
Canada
12
1980 United States
Lake Placid
Flag of the United States
United States (2)
Round robin Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (1)
Flag of Sweden
Sweden (1)
Round robin Flag of Finland
Finland
12
1984 Flag of SFR Yugoslavia
Sarajevo
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (6)
Round robin Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (4)
Flag of Sweden
Sweden (2)
Round robin Flag of Canada
Canada
12
1988 Canada
Calgary
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (7)
Round robin Flag of Finland
Finland (1)
Flag of Canada
Canada (3)
Round robin Flag of Sweden
Sweden
12
1992 France
Albertville
Flag of Canada
Canada (7)
3 – 1 Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (2)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (5)
6 – 1 Flag of the United States
United States
12
1994 Norway
Lillehammer
Flag of Sweden
Sweden (1)
3 – 2 GWS Flag of Canada
Canada (3)
Flag of Finland
Finland (1)
4 – 0 Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
12
1998 Japan
Nagano
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (1)
1 – 0 Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (3)
Flag of Finland
Finland (2)
3 – 2 Flag of Canada
Canada
14
2002 United States
Salt Lake City
Flag of Canada
Canada (8)
5 – 2 Flag of the United States
United States (7)
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (2)
7 – 2 Flag of Norway
Norway
14
2006 Flag of Italy
Turin
Flag of Sweden
Sweden (2)
3 – 2 Flag of Finland
Finland (2)
Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia (6)
3 – 0 Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
12
2010 Canada
Vancouver
Flag of Canada
Canada (9)
3 – 2 OT Flag of the United States
United States (8)
Flag of Norway
Norway (1)
5 – 4 Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
12
2014 Soviet Union
Sochi
Flag of Canada
Canada (10)
3 – 0 Flag of Sweden
Sweden (3)
Flag of Finland
Finland (3)
5 – 0 Flag of the United States
United States
12
2018 South Korea
Pyeongchang
Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union (8)
4 – 3 OT Flag of Germany
Germany (1)
Flag of Canada
Canada (4)
6 – 4 Flag of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
12
2022 Norway
Tromsø
12

Women[]

Year Host Gold medal game Bronze medal game Teams
Gold medal Gold
medalists
Score Silver medal Silver
medalists
Bronze medal Bronze
medalists
Score 4th place
finishers
1998 Japan
Nagano
Flag of the United States
United States (1)
4 – 1 Flag of Canada
Canada (1)
Flag of Finland
Finland (1)
4 – 1 Flag of the People's Republic of China
China
6
2002 US flag 51 stars
Salt Lake City
Flag of Canada
Canada (1)
3 – 2 US flag 51 stars
United States (1)
Flag of Sweden
Sweden (1)
2 – 1 Flag of Finland
Finland
8
2006 Flag of Italy
Turin
Flag of Canada
Canada (2)
4 – 1 Flag of Sweden
Sweden (1)
US flag 51 stars
United States (1)
4 – 0 Flag of Norway
Norway
8
2010 Canada
Vancouver
Flag of Canada
Canada (3)
3 – 0 US flag 51 stars
United States (2)
Flag of Finland
Finland (2)
3 – 2 OT Flag of Sweden
Sweden
8
2014 Soviet Union
Sochi
Flag of Canada
Canada (4)
3 – 2 OT US flag 51 stars
United States (3)
Flag of Norway
Norway (1)
4 – 3 Flag of Sweden
Sweden
8
2018 South Korea
Pyeongchang
US flag 51 stars
United States (2)
3 – 2 GWS Flag of Canada
Canada (2)
Flag of Finland
Finland (3)
3 – 2 Flag of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
8
2022 Norway
Tromsø
10

Medal table[]

Men[]

Country Gold Silver Bronze Medals
Canada Canada 10 3 4 17
Soviet Union Soviet Union 7 4 2 13
Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia 2 3 6 11
US flag 51 stars United States 2 7 1 10
Sweden Sweden 2 3 2 7
United Kingdom Great Britain 1 0 1 2
Finland Finland 0 2 3 5
Template:Country data Germany Germany
Template:Country data Germany West Germany
 
0
0
0
1
0
1
1
1
2
2
1
3
Switzerland Switzerland 0 0 2 2
Norway Norway 0 0 1 1

Women[]

Country Gold Silver Bronze Medals
Canada Canada 4 2 0 6
US flag 51 stars United States 2 3 1 6
Sweden Sweden 0 1 1 2
Finland Finland 0 0 3 3
Norway Norway 0 0 1 1

See also[]