An Ice Hockey game consists of three 20 minute periods of play, during which players are rotated frequently, with a 18 minute intermission between periods plus overtime and shootout, if required.

Preliminary round (20 games):

Consists of two groups of five teams, namely Group A with teams seeded 1-5 and Group B with teams seeded 6-10. Within each group all teams play against each other. Ranking in each preliminary round group is determined by total points as follows (three point system):

• 3 points for the winning team at the conclusion of regulation time

• 1 point for both teams at the conclusion of regulation time if the game is tied

• 1 additional point earned for the team winning the game in an overtime period, or the shootout procedure if the teams are still tied following conclusion of the overtime period

• 0 points for the team losing the game in regulation time

The five teams from Group A and the top three from Group B advance to the quarterfinals. The two teams ranked 4th and 5th in Group B are ranked 9th and 10th in the final ranking.

Quarterfinals (4 games):

The quarterfinal pairings are:

A1 vs B3 

A2 vs B2 

A3 vs B1 

A4 vs A5

Teams are re-seeded after the quarterfinals, based on their combined ranking. This means that positions in the bracket cannot be predetermined. The time and venue for each game is determined after the end of the qualification play-off. 

The winners advance to the semifinals, while the losers are ranked 5th to 8th according to their preliminary round combined ranking (group (A>B), rank within the group, number of points, goal difference, goals scored, pre- competition seeding).

Semifinals (2 games):

The teams with the highest and lowest rankings in the combined ranking play against each other in one semifinal, and the remaining two teams play against each other in the other semifinal. The winners play in the gold medal game, while the losers play in bronze medal game.

Finals (2 games):

Bronze medal and gold medal games.

Differences between the IIHF World Championships and the Olympic Winter Games

Women

The IIHF World Championship had the same preliminary round format but a different play-off format to the Olympic Games where the two best ranked losers of quarterfinals play a placement game for 5th and 6th place to determine group placement.

For the upcoming 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, the groups have been changed to a horizontal seeding format. This means teams are now distributed across groups following a snake format, with the two groups alternating in order based on their World Ranking.

Group A:

1, 4, 5, 8, 9

Group B:

2, 3, 6, 7, 10

 

Sport Rules and Procedures

Preliminary round ranking and Tie Breaking Formula

The tie breaking procedure is applicable when two or more teams are tied in points in a Championship standing. The tie-breaking system for two teams with the same number of points in a standing will be the game between the two teams, the winner of the game taking precedence.

Should three or more teams be tied on points, then a tie-breaking formula will be applied, creating a sub-group amongst the tied teams. This process will continue until only two or none of the teams remain tied. In the case of two remaining tied teams, the game between the two would then be the determining tie-breaker. The tie-breaking shall be as follows:

Taking into consideration the games between each of the tied teams, a sub-group is created applying the points awarded in the direct games amongst the tied teams from which the teams are then ranked accordingly.

Should three or more teams still remain tied in points then the better goal difference in the direct games amongst the tied teams will be decisive.

Should three or more teams still remain tied in points and goal difference then the highest number of goals scored by these teams in their direct games will be decisive.

Should three or more teams still remain tied in points, goal difference and goals scored then the results between each of the three teams and the closest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied. In this case the tied team with the best result (1. points, 2. goal difference, 3. more goals scored) against the closest best ranked team will take precedence.

Should the teams still remain tied, then the results between each of the three teams and the next highest best-ranked team outside the sub-group will be applied.

Should the teams still remain tied after these five steps have been exercised then Sport considerations will be applied, and the teams will be ranked by their positions coming into the Championship (i.e. seeding).

In case three or more teams are tied this process will continue until only two teams remain tied. The game between the two remaining tied teams would then be the determining tie-breaker. If the two remaining tied teams have not played each other than the tie break will be determined by re-starting the process only for these two teams.

The IIHF tie-breaking system shall be used to resolve ties before the end of the Preliminary Round.

In case two teams are tied and they have not yet played against each other or in case three or more teams are tied and not all mutual games have been played within the sub-group, the following criteria will be used to break the tie:

Fewest number of games played;

Highest Goal Differential (GF-GA) in all games;

Highest number of Goals For (GF) in all games;

Highest tournament seeding entering the tournament.

Overtime operations

Overtime – operations for a preliminary round game

If at the end of the three regular twenty minutes periods, the two playing teams are tied, the teams will then play a “sudden death” overtime period of not more than five minutes with the team scoring first declared the winner.

The overtime period shall be played with each team at a numerical strength of three skaters and one goalkeeper.

The overtime period will commence following a three-minute intermission during which time a “shoveling” of the ice surface by arena personnel will be performed utilizing the same procedure as during “television commercial breaks”. Once the intermission has been completed, the clock will be reset to 5:00 minutes and the overtime period will begin immediately. Teams will not change ends. The Players will remain at their respective Players’ benches during the 3-minute intermission in which the “shoveling” of the ice surface takes place. Goalkeepers must go to their respective Players’ benches during this rest period; however, penalized Players must remain in the penalty box. Should a penalized Player exit the penalty box, they shall be returned immediately by the Game Officials with no additional penalty being assessed, unless they commit an infraction of any other rule. Teams are not permitted to return to the dressing room during this time.

Overtime - operations for a play-off game except gold medal game

Overtime operations for non-medal playoff games are the same as for preliminary-round games with one exception. The duration of the overtime period for playoff games including bronze medal games is ten minutes.

Overtime - operations for the gold medal game

If at the end of the three regular twenty minutes periods in a gold medal game the two playing teams are tied, the teams will then play a 'sudden death' overtime phase with the team scoring first declared the winner. The overtime periods shall be played with each team at a numerical strength of three skaters and one goalkeeper.

The overtime period will commence following an ice resurfacing during a eighteen minute intermission where the teams will return to their dressing room before the start of the overtime period. Teams will not change ends. If at the end of the first overtime period the two playing teams are still tied, the teams will then continue to play a second overtime period following an ice resurfacing during a eighteen minute intermission where the teams will return to their dressing room before the start of the second overtime period. Teams will change ends.

If at the end of the second overtime period the two playing teams are still tied, the teams will then continue to play a third overtime period following an ice resurfacing during a eighteen minute intermission where the teams will return to their dressing room before the start of the third overtime period. Teams will change ends.

This procedure will go on until a winner is declared.

Shootout procedure

Except for the medal game, if no goal is scored in the overtime period, the IIHF Shootout procedure will apply. The following procedure will be utilized:

1. Shots will be taken at both ends of the ice surface. The fourteen (14) meter wide longitudinal center section of the rink,between the face-off spots in the neutral and end zones, will be dry- scraped by the ice-resurfacing machine prior to the Shootout during the time required to organize the program accordingly.

2.  The procedure will begin with five (5) different shooters from each team taking alternate shots. The skaters do not need to be named beforehand. Eligible to participate in the Shootout will be all Players from both teams listed on the Official Game Sheet except as specified in article 3 below.

3. Any skater whose penalty had not been completed when the overtime period ended is not eligible to be one of the Players selected to take the shots and must remain in the penalty box or in the dressing room. Also, Players serving penalties assessed during the Shootout must remain in the penalty box or in the dressing room until the end of the procedure.

4. The Referee will call the two Captains to the On-Ice Officials’ crease and flip a coin to determine which team takes the first shot. The winner of the coin toss will have the choice whether their team will shoot first or second.

5. The goalkeepers shall defend the same goal as in the overtime period and remain in the goal when their own team is taking a shot.

6. The goalkeepers from each team may be changed after each shot.

7. The shots will be taken in accordance with ➔ Rule 24 – Penalty Shot

8. The Players of both teams will take the shots alternately until a decisive goal is scored. The remaining shots will not be taken.

9. If the score is still tied after all shots are taken by each team, the procedure shall continue with a “tiebreak shootout”, using the same or new Players. The team that shot second in the first five Penalty Shot will start first in the “tie-break shots”. The game shall be finished as soon as a duel of two Players brings the decisive result. The same Player can be used for each shot by a team in the “tie-break shootout”.

10.  The Official Scorekeeper will record all shots taken, indicating the Players and goals scored.

11.  Only the decisive goal will count in the result of the game. It shall be credited to the team that scored the goal and charged against the team that was scored upon.

12. If a team declines to participate in the Shootout, the game will be declared as a loss for that team and the other team will be awarded 3 points for a win. If a Player declines to take a shot it will be declared "no score" for their team.

Frozen puck guidelines

A frozen puck bounces less and is easier to control. In order to provide the players with the best playing conditions, official game pucks are stored between -10 and -12 degrees Celsius, and the puck that is in play is replaced at a stoppage in play after two minutes of game time.

The procedure is as follows:

The penalty box attendant is to open the penalty box door at a whistle when the puck has been in use for more than two minutes of actual playing time. Example as:

at 17:34 – a new puck

at 16:10 – a whistle, same puck

at 15:12 – a whistle, new puck

As the linespersons will not be aware of the actual time that a puck has been in play it will be the job of the penalty box attendant to open the penalty box door to signal to a linesperson to come and get a new puck. The linesperson will pick it up for use at the upcoming face-off.

Before the opening face-off of each period the referee will come to get a puck just before the face-off is to take place.

During a television commercial breaks, the linesperson will not come to get the new puck until the conclusion of the service.

If for any reason there is a lengthy stoppage of play (altercation, ice repair, broken glass, etc.) and it is evident that the puck in play has been out of the freezer for an extended length of time the penalty box attendant is to signal the linesperson to get a new puck as play is about to resume.

Commercial Breaks

During each regular period of the game there shall be a maximum of three commercial breaks, each with a maximum duration of seventy seconds but can be subject to change for specific events. Commercial breaks shall be taken at the first stoppage of play after the following times on the game clock as it counts down:

Break number 1: 14.00 (min.)

Break number 2: 10.00 (min.)

Break number 3: 06.00 (min.)

Despite the above indicated time slots, commercial breaks shall not be taken if:

a) A goal is scored;

b) A penalty shot is called;

c) One of the teams is playing short-handed, except if a team is short-handed as a result of a major penalty;

d) A fight breaks out on ice;

e) An icing infraction is called;

f) The net is dislodged accidentally by a defending Player (incl. goalkeeper); and

g) The puck is shot into the end zone from beyond the center red line and the goalkeeper freezes the puck resulting in a stoppage of play.

Exceptions from point e-g above is when a penalty or penalties are assessed in the stoppage that affects the on-ice strength of either team. In the event that a commercial break is not taken during the time slot prescribed above, because of the exceptions above, the missed commercial opportunity shall be made up at the first stoppage of play in the next commercial break time slot. If there is another incident where the second commercial break is missed, this procedure shall continue to repeat itself until all commercial breaks are taken. However, there must always be at least sixty seconds between two commercial breaks.

Any extra commercial break taken during a time slot shall follow the procedure described above and they shall be eliminated from the last remaining time slot of that period. They shall not be used to create extra commercial inventory for broadcasters. However, in such instances, the Commercial Coordinator will be instructed to turn on the light and signal the truck that an optional commercial opportunity is being taken.

No commercial breaks shall be taken in the final thirty seconds of the first and second periods, as well as during the final two minutes of the third period. No commercial breaks shall be granted during overtime.

The teams shall comply with the following provisions during commercial breaks:

a) Goalkeepers will be allowed to go to their respective Players’ bench.

b) Teams are allowed to change lines once the Referee blows the whistle signalling the teams to return to the face-off with twenty seconds remaining in the commercial stoppage.

c) These line changes will follow the same protocol as a normal line change during a stoppage of play.

Goal Breaks

Immediately after a goal, there is a 45-second 'goal break'. This break is for the broadcaster to show replays of the goal and for the defending team to decide whether to initiate a Coach's challenge (if Rule 38 is used in the game).

Protests / Appeals

No protests and no appeals are permitted.

General rules

The 2025-2026 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Official Rule Book, the 2025-2028 IIHF Statutes and Bylaws (effective September 2025) and the applicable IIHF Regulations shall apply to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 Ice Hockey competitions.

Any questions or incidents not covered by the rules are handled as follows:

• Cases of a general nature are resolved in accordance with the Olympic Charter.

• Technical questions are resolved by the 2025-2026 IIHF Rule Book, the 2024-2028 IIHF Statutes and Bylaws, IIHF Sport Guidelines and the applicable IIHF Regulations.

The content of this Information Book is for information purposes only and was correct at the time of publication in June 2025. In case of discrepancies with the above-mentioned Rules and Regulations, the latest Olympic Charter and IIHF Rules, By-laws and IIHF Regulations before the Games shall apply.