USA Beats Slovakia, Sets Up Hockey Gold Match; Ferreira Wins Freeski Gold; Curling Finals Confirmed
Updated (4 articles)
USA Defeats Slovakia to Reach Hockey Gold Medal Game On Feb. 21, 2026 the United States beat Slovakia 6‑2 in the men’s ice‑hockey semifinal in Milan, securing a spot in Sunday’s gold‑medal game against Canada [1][2]. Goals came from Jack Hughes, Jack Eichel and Brady Tkachuk, and a late scuffle resulted in misconduct penalties for Slovakian Erik Cernak and Tkachuk [1]. Auston Matthews said the upcoming final will require a full‑team effort, underscoring USA’s confidence [1].
Alex Ferreira Captures Men’s Freeski Halfpipe Gold Alex Ferreira earned the men’s freeski halfpipe gold with a 93.75‑point final jump, the highest score of the competition [1][2]. His decisive jump edged Estonia’s Henry Sildaru for silver and Canada’s Brendan Mackay for bronze [1][2]. The victory concluded the freeski halfpipe schedule on Feb. 21, adding a gold medal to the United States’ tally [1].
Women’s Curling Medal Matchups Set: US‑Canada Bronze, Sweden‑Switzerland Gold The United States will face Canada for the bronze medal after the U.S. edged Switzerland 7‑6 in an extra end on Feb. 19 [4][1]. Sweden, which defeated Canada 6‑3 in the semifinal, will meet Switzerland for the gold medal on Sunday [3][1]. Both matchups follow tightly contested semifinals, with the U.S. and Canada each seeking a podium finish after earlier round‑robin challenges [3][4].
Sources
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1.
CNN: USA Advances to Gold‑Medal Hockey Showdown as Alex Ferreira Wins Freeski Gold: details USA’s 6‑2 semifinal win over Slovakia, upcoming gold game vs Canada, Ferreira’s halfpipe gold, women’s curling finals, medal table lead, and IOC review of a member’s Trump meeting attendance .
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CNN: USA advances to Olympic men’s hockey final, Canada wins dramatic semifinal: repeats USA’s 6‑2 win, adds Canada’s 3‑2 victory over Finland, highlights U.S. mothers’ bobsleigh heat win and Hunter Hess’s fall, focusing on broader U.S. performances .
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AP: Canada’s Top Women’s Curling Team Upset by Sweden, Men Await Gold Chance: reports Canada’s women losing 6‑3 to Sweden, sets US‑Canada bronze matchup, notes men’s gold game vs Great Britain, and captures emotional reactions from Canadian coaches .
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WBNS (Columbus, OH): U.S. Women’s Curling Team Secures Semifinal Spot Over Switzerland: describes the U.S. 7‑6 extra‑end win over Switzerland to reach semifinals, sets up the US‑Canada bronze bout, and includes player profiles and Swiss coach commentary .
Timeline
Feb 2026 – Canada’s women’s rink, led by Rachel Homan, rallies to defeat South Korea 10‑7, securing a semifinal berth after a rocky round‑robin start, underscoring their comeback momentum [4].
Feb 2026 – Canadian men’s team prepares for a gold‑medal showdown with Great Britain amid scrutiny over alleged double‑touch violations, highlighting ongoing controversy [3].
Feb 2026 – Brad Jacobs likens the upcoming Canada‑Norway men’s semifinal to the “déjà vu” scenario from the 2014 Sochi Games, providing historical context for the matchup [4].
Feb 2026 – Switzerland’s women’s squad, fresh from silver medals at the 2024 and 2025 World Championships, targets its first Olympic gold, illustrating recent dominance [3].
Feb 19, 2026 – The U.S. women’s curling team defeats Switzerland 7‑6 in an extra end, with skip Tabitha Peterson delivering the decisive shot to clinch a semifinal spot [4].
Feb 19, 2026 – American curler Cory Thiesse, a mixed‑doubles silver medalist with Korey Dropkin, eyes a second Olympic medal in the women’s event, adding depth to the U.S. roster [4].
Feb 19, 2026 – Swiss skip Yannick Schwaller credits coach Glenn Howard for fostering a strong team atmosphere as Switzerland enters the semifinals unbeaten [4].
Feb 20, 2026 – Canada’s top‑ranked women’s team falls 6‑3 to Sweden in the semifinal, ending their gold‑medal quest and leaving the squad “heartbroken,” according to coach Heather Nedohin [3].
Feb 20, 2026 – Sweden, ranked No. 12, advances to the women’s gold‑medal match against Switzerland after the 6‑3 victory over Canada [3].
Feb 20, 2026 – Canada is set to contest the women’s bronze medal against the United States, with both sides acknowledging the high stakes [3].
Feb 20, 2026 – The Canadian men’s team heads to the gold‑medal game versus Great Britain, maintaining focus despite the double‑touch controversy [3].
Feb 20, 2026 – The United States thumps Slovakia 6‑2 in the men’s hockey semifinal, booking a gold‑medal clash with Canada and prompting captain Auston Matthews to call for a “full‑team effort” [2][1].
Feb 20, 2026 – Nathan MacKinnon scores with 35 seconds left to give Canada a 3‑2 win over Finland, securing its place in the men’s hockey gold‑medal final [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Alex Ferreira wins men’s freeski halfpipe gold with a 93.75‑point final jump, edging Estonia’s Henry Sildaru (silver) and Canada’s Brendan Mackay (bronze) [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Switzerland leads Norway 4‑0 in the men’s curling bronze match, positioning itself for a podium finish [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – U.S. mothers Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones post a 56.92‑second track‑record run, becoming the first Olympic two‑woman bobsleigh team [2].
Feb 20, 2026 – Hunter Hess falls to sixth after a hard landing, following earlier criticism from President Donald Trump [2].
Feb 21, 2026 – The women’s curling bronze medal game is slated for Saturday, pitting the United States against Canada after Canada’s 3‑2 comeback win over Finland [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – Norway tops the overall medal table with 37 medals (17 gold), while the United States sits second with 29 medals (10 gold) and host Italy third with 27 medals (9 gold) [1].
Feb 21, 2026 – IOC president Kirsty Coventry announces a review of an IOC member’s attendance at President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” meeting, linking sport governance to politics [1].
Feb 22, 2026 – The men’s ice‑hockey gold‑medal game between the United States and Canada is scheduled for Sunday, promising a marquee showdown to cap the Milan‑Cortina Games [1].