Team USA Men’s Hockey Olympics History: Every Finish as 2026 Squad Chases Gold

A look back at the United States men’s hockey team’s finishes at the Winter Olympics.

Team USA is looking for its first gold medal since 1980. | Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images

The men’s hockey playoffs are officially underway at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, with the quarterfinal qualifiers beginning on Tuesday morning. The entirety of the playoffs is a four-round affair, with the gold medal game set for Sunday, Feb. 22, at 8:10 a.m. ET from Milano Santagiulia Arena.

For Team USA specifically, they finished Group Play at the Games a cool 3–0 and as such, qualified for the No. 2 seed and a bye into the quarterfinals. They’ll take on the winner of Sweden vs. Latvia on Wednesday afternoon at 3:10 p.m. ET.

MORE: Updated Men’s Hockey Playoff Bracket, Team USA Schedule at 2026 Winter Olympics

Following three dominant wins over Latvia, Denmark, and Germany, the United States is primed to truly compete for a gold medal in 2026. Not only is their roster loaded with homegrown talent, but their coaching staff is littered with experience as head coach Mike Sullivan is flocked with assistants John Hynes, David Quinn, and John Tortorella.

On the topic, here’s a look back at Team USA’s hockey history at the Olympics, including their gold medal victories and how they’ve finished at each Games.

How many times has Team USA men’s hockey won the gold medal?

Mike Eruzione was captain of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. | Jym Wilson, USA TODAY via Imagn Content Services, LLC

The United States men’s hockey team has won two gold medals at the Winter Olympics. Their first came at the 1960 Games in Squaw Valley, while the second was the famous “Miracle on Ice” team at the 1980 Games at Lake Placid.

The 1960 team went a perfect 7–0 in the tournament and was guided by coach Jack Riley and captain Jack Kirrane. The 1980 team, meanwhile, was led by coach Herb Brooks and captain Mike Eruzione—a group that stunned the hockey world by defeating the Soviet Union 4–3 in the semifinals before clinching the gold medal with a win over Finland two days later.

Team USA has also won the silver medal eight times and bronze once.

Full list of Team USA men’s hockey finishes at the Winter Olympics

T.J. Oshie was a Team USA hero at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. | Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Here’s a complete look at where Team USA has finished in each Winter Olympics since 1920, along with their coach, team captain, and record at each Games.

Note: Gold medal victories are in bold.

Olympic Year, Host	Coach	Captain	Record	Finish/Medal
1920, Antwerp	Cornelius Fellowes, Roy Schooley	Joe McCormick	3–1–0	Silver
1924, Chamonix	William S. Haddock	Irving Small	4–1–0	Silver
1928, St. Moritz	DNP	DNP	DNP	DNP
1932, Lake Placid	Alfred Winsor	John Chase	4–1–1	Silver
1936, Garmisch-Partenkirchen	Albert Prettyman	John Garrison	5–2–1	Bronze
1948, St. Moritz	John Garrison	Goodwin Harding	5–3–0	4th, DSQ
1952, Oslo	Connie Pleban	Allen Van	6–1–1	Silver
1956, Cortina d’Ampezzo	John Mariucci	Gene Campbell	5–2–0	Silver
1960, Squaw Valley	Jack Riley	Jack Kirrane	7–0–0	Gold
1964, Innsbruck	Eddie Jeremiah	Herb Brooks, Bill Reichart	2–5–0	5th
1968, Grenoble	Murray Williamson	Lou Nanne	2–4–1	6th
1972, Sapporo	Murray Williamson	Tim Sheehy	4–2–0	Silver
1976, Innsbruck	Bob Johnson	John Taft	3–3–0	5th
1980, Lake Placid	Herb Brooks	Mike Eruzione	6–0–1	Gold
1984, Sarajevo	Lou Vairo	Phil Verchota	2–2–2	7th
1988, Calgary	Dave Peterson	Brian Leetch	3–3–0	7th
1992, Albertville	Dave Peterson	Clark Donatelli	5–2–1	4th
1994, Lillehammer	Tim Taylor	Peter Laviolette	1–4–3	8th
1998, Nagano	Ron Wilson	Chris Chelios	1–3–1	6th
2002, Salt Lake City	Herb Brooks	Chris Chelios	4–1–1	Silver
2006, Turin	Peter Laviolette	Chris Chelios	1–4–1	8th
2010, Vancouver	Ron Wilson	Jamie Langenbrunner	5–1	Silver
2014, Sochi	Dan Bylsma	Zach Parise	4–2	4th
2018, Pyeongchang	Tony Granato	Brian Gionta	2–3	7th
2022, Beijing	David Quinn	Andy Miele	3–1	5th

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