Serie A, NHL Announce Pre–Olympics Collaboration

Serie A, the National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association have announced a collaboration ahead of the participation by NHL players at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy.

Several events are planned around the NHL/NHLPA European Player Media Tour, which will take place in Milan on August 22, one day before the 2025–2026 Serie A season opener on August 23.

“In North America, both soccer and hockey have incredibly dedicated, passionate fan bases,” said Andy Mitchell, chief executive officer and managing director of Lega Serie A USA. “This collaboration with the NHL and the NHLPA allows us to engage with a global audience in new and exciting ways while celebrating the anticipation surrounding the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.”

Serie A players and legends will participate alongside NHL’s players in events highlighting the connections between soccer and hockey players. NHL players will visit the training grounds of several of Serie A’s clubs in the surrounding region and attend a Serie A match at the San Siro, where the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics will be held.

The 2026 Olympic Winter Games will be the first time NHL players participate in the Olympics since the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. In recent years, the NHL has upped its outreach into Europe with the Global Series, which has featured regular–season contests in Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic, as well as exhibitions in Germany and Switzerland.

“As a global sport with players from 21 countries, the NHL is thrilled to collaborate with Lega Serie A to create unique content that celebrates the intersection of hockey and soccer,” said Keith Wachtel, president, NHL Business. “With the Winter Olympics on the horizon, Milan will serve as a focal point for sports fans around the world, so we are delighted to take the opportunity to promote our top hockey players in the environments of the biggest sport in Italy.”