MILAN (AP) — Finland defender Jenni Hiirikoski’s fifth and potentially final Olympic Games are over due to an upper-body injury that will require surgery, the Finnish Ice Hockey Association announced on Saturday.

Meanwhile, USA scratches LaCombe as the Olympic hockey tournament intensifies with preliminary round play winding down.

Two European rivals meet with a spot in the semifinals on the line, as Finland and Switzerland face off in the final women’s hockey quarterfinal at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Finland and Italy face off in this Group B men's ice hockey matchup during the 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday.

Kakko has had a lot of success playing for his country. He helped Finland win the IIHF U18 World Championship in Russia in 2018, tying for the team lead with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in seven games, including a goal in a 3-2 win against the United States in the gold medal game.

MILAN (AP) — As top-seeded Team USA practiced a day before its quarterfinal matchup against host Italy, the Canadians were on the nearby main rink reminding everyone it might not be time to count them out of the women’s hockey Olympic tournament just yet.

Try this on for size: Between Finland and Sweden, the two combined for 100 shots in their opening games of the 2026 Winter Olympics preliminary round. One lost, 4-1, and the other failed to cover its 5.

Slovakia opened the 2026 Winter Olympics with a decisive 4–1 victory over defending champion Finland, powered by two goals from Juraj Slafkovský and a 38-save performance from Samuel Hlavaj.

If Sweden and Finland aren't at the top of Group B at the conclusion of the preliminary round, then the Olympics will have turned upside down.