Milano Cortina 2026: Introduction to Para ice hockey

Ready to dive into the thrill of the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games?

From 6–15 March 2026, the world’s best athletes will compete for glory in 79 medal events across six sports: Para alpine skiing, Para biathlon, Para cross-country skiing, Para ice hockey, Para snowboard and wheelchair curling.

Each day, we take a closer look at the six sports featured in the programme and answer all your questions ahead of the Paralympic Games. Today, we’re covering everything you need to know about Para ice hockey.

Milano Cortina 2026: All You Need to Know about Para Ice Hockey ❄️🏒🥅

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What is Para ice hockey?

Para ice hockey is a fast, physical and action-packed sport that is played by athletes with physical impairments in the lower part of the body.

Each team has 13 players and two goaltenders, or 14 players if the team has one or more female athletes. Only six players can be on the ice at a time.

Each match consists of three 15-minute periods – with the team with the most points winning the match. If teams are tied after the third period, the match continues in overtime and the team that scores the first goal wins.

The rink is divided into halves and end zones, and is surrounded by boards to keep the puck always in play. There are nine face-off spots, where play begins with a puck drop.

The zones shape the flow of the game – defending, neutral, and attacking.

Athletes use specially designed sledges fitted with two skate blades and play using two short sticks, each with spike ends for moving on ice and blades to handle or shoot the puck.

Games are very physical so athletes wear protective gear to minimise the impact of contact.

Get to know the teams and the Milano Cortina 2026 competition

The Para ice hockey tournament will take place from 7 to 15 March at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. There will be three days of preliminary-round matches before teams advance to the knockout stage, with the medal matches scheduled on the same day as the Closing Ceremony.

Eight teams are divided into two groups, with each team playing three games within their group. The two top teams from each group will advance to semi-finals, while the teams ranked third and fourth will compete in classification games to determine fifth to eighth place.

The teams that have qualified for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games are:

Italy

Canada

China

Czechia

Germany

Japan

Slovakia

USA

Czechia and Japan will play the opening game of the Milano Cortina 2026 competition.

Please check out the Milano Cortina 2026 Para ice hockey schedule 

Brief history of Para ice hockey

Para ice hockey was invented at a rehabilitation centre in Stockholm, Sweden, during the early 1960’s by a group of Swedes, who wanted to continue playing hockey.

They modified a metal frame sled, or sledge, with two regular-sized ice hockey skate blades that allowed the puck to pass underneath. Round poles with bike handles were used as sticks. The group played without any goaltenders on a lake south of Stockholm.

By 1969, Stockholm had a five-team league that included players with a physical impairment and players without disabilities. The first international Para ice hockey match was held in Stockholm that year, which featured a local team and one from Oslo, Norway.

Several countries began to establish teams, including Great Britain (1981), Canada (1982), USA (1990), Estonia and Japan (1993).

Two Swedish national teams played an exhibition match at the inaugural Paralympic Winter Games in 1976.

Para ice hockey became an official event at the Lillehammer 1994 Paralympic Winter Games. Sweden, the birthplace of the Para sport, won the inaugural competition, defeating Norway 1-0 in sudden death in the gold medal match. Canada claimed bronze.

Since then, the sport has become one of the biggest attractions for spectators at the Paralympic Winter Games. Team USA has won a total of five gold medals, including four consecutive titles since Vancouver 2010. 

Five facts about Para ice hockey

1. Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena will host Para ice hockey competition during the Paralympics. Situated in Milan’s vibrant Santa Giulia district, this multi-purpose arena was built specifically for the Winter Games. After welcoming thousands of fans at the Paralympics, the arena will evolve into a hub for sports and live entertainment, standing as a lasting legacy for the Games.

2. The puck used in Para ice hockey is made of vulcanized rubber. It is 2.54cm thick, with a diameter of 7.52cm and weighs 156 to 170 grams. Did you know that pucks are frozen before games to help them travel across the ice surface? Top players can hit the puck at speeds of up to 100 km/hour.

3. The USA tops the all-time Para ice hockey medals table, with five gold and a bronze medal. The last time the team failed to reach the podium was at Nagano 1998. This month, three-time gold medallist Rico Roman shared the key to success in the sport.

4. Germany will return to the Paralympic stage for the first time since Torino 2006. The team made their lone Games appearance in Italy 20 years ago. German star Leopold shared his preparation ahead of Milano Cortina 2026.

5. China pulled off the biggest surprise at Beijing 2022, winning bronze on their Paralympic debut. China’s Para ice hockey programme was launched only five years prior to the Games, but the team beat South Korea 4-0 to make history on home ice. 

Secure your tickets for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games  

Milano Cortina 2026, which takes place from 6-15 March 2026, is set to be the most beautiful Paralympic Winter Games yet. Ticket prices start at EUR 10 for children under 14, with approximately 89 per cent of the tickets available for EUR 35 or less.

For more information, please visit tickets.milanocortina2026.org