Team Canada begins its quest for Olympic gold in Milan this Thursday, facing a dangerous Team Czechia squad in the tournament opener. With NHL stars back on the international stage, the anticipation is at an all-time high.
Here is everything you need to know to watch Team Czechia vs. Team Canada on TV and streaming services, along with key stats and predictions.
How to Watch Team Czechia vs. Team Canada
Fans across the globe can catch every minute of the action. The game is scheduled to puck drop at 10:40 a.m. ET (7:40 a.m. PT / 16:40 CET).
- In Canada: The game will be broadcast live on CBC, Sportsnet One, and TSN. For those on the move, streaming is available for free via CBC Gem, or through the Sportsnet+ and TSN apps with a valid subscription.
- In the USA: American viewers can tune in to the USA Network or stream the full game on Peacock.
- In Czechia: National coverage is provided by Česká televize (ČT Sport) and across Europe via Eurosport/Discovery+.
Regional Blackouts: Fortunately, because the Olympics are a global event, “regional blackouts” in the traditional NHL sense (where local games are blocked to favor local cable) generally do not apply to national Olympic broadcasts. However, streaming services are geofenced. If you are a Canadian traveling in the US, you will likely need to use a local US broadcaster like Peacock unless you have a VPN to access your home CBC Gem account.
Historic Rivalry: Records and Leading Scorers
The history between these two nations is legendary. Team Canada holds an all-time Olympic head-to-head record of 13-5-2 against Czechia (including the former Czechoslovakia). Canada remains the most decorated nation in men’s hockey history with 16 total medals (9 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze). Team Czechia has carved out its own legacy with 10 total medals (1 Gold, 4 Silver, 5 Bronze), famously winning gold in 1998 after defeating Canada in a shootout.
All-Time Leading Olympic Scorers:
- Canada: Harry Watson (36 points in 1924) holds the historic record, though in the modern era, players like Jarome Iginla and Sidney Crosby have been the definitive leaders.
- Czechia: The ageless JaromÃr Jágr leads the program with 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) across five Olympic tournaments.
Current Form and Game Prediction
Heading into this matchup, both teams are relatively healthy, though Canada is monitoring the depth of its forward group after losing Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli to pre-tournament injuries (replaced by Sam Bennett and Seth Jarvis). Canada comes in hot, with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon currently sitting 1st and 2nd in the NHL scoring race.
Personal Insight: I believe this game will be much closer than people think. While Canada’s roster is an “All-Star” ballot, the Czechs always play a disciplined, physical game that frustrates high-octane offenses. However, with McDavid and MacKinnon playing at a different speed than the rest of the world right now, I’m predicting a 4-2 victory for Team Canada.
As the NHL season pauses for the Olympics, the race for the Art Ross Trophy remains a thriller. You can track the latest NHL point leaders for the 2025-26 season on our stats page. Think you know who will dominate the second half of the season? Join our online playoff hockey pool on our website for a chance to win massive cash prizes! It’s the best way to stay engaged with the road to the Stanley Cup while cheering on your country in Milan.
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