Printable Olympics men’s hockey bracket

Here’s a printable 2018 Olympics men’s hockey bracket

Men’s hockey at the 2018 Winter Olympics should be interesting. While the best players in the world won’t be there, maybe this is what the sport needs. Sure, the NHL isn’t going. But now fans get to witness great stories. Chris Bourque gets to represent the United States. Wojtek Wolski gets to represent Canada roughly 18 months after breaking his neck.

The 2018 Olympics will undeniably bring back memories of the 1980 Olympics. Remember “The Miracle On Ice”? Well, this won’t be too different from it. Team USA doesn’t have Patrick Kane, Auston Matthews, or Phil Kessel. But they do have Brian Gionta, Jordan Greenway, Troy Terry, and David Leggio. These could be the guys who future generations look up to.

There will be 12 men’s hockey teams at the 2018 Olympics. Initially, there will be group play, featuring three groups of four teams. Let’s take a look at how they are assembled.

Group A: Canada, Czech Republic, Switzerland, South Korea

Group B: Olympic Athletes from Russia, United States, Slovakia, Slovenia

Group C: Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany

After the group round, the top four ranked teams automatically gets into the medal round. The remaining eight teams must participate in qualification playoffs. These playoffs will take place on Feb. 20. The quarterfinals will begin the next day. So the teams that finish the group stage in the top-four will have a bit of an advantage.

Canada has won three of the past four gold medals in men’s hockey (2002, 2010, 2014). They also finished seventh in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Canada’s looking to three-peat as gold medalists. However, they’ll have to do it with their best players playing in the NHL.

Next: Best hockey player from each state

This could be Canada’s “miracle on ice” if they can find a way to win their third straight gold medal. Russia is currently the favorite to win.