Pucks, Stones, and Big Air: The Games Expand — Day -1 Roadmap
Milano-Cortina 2026: The Pace Picks Up — Day -1 Preview
The wait is over. While the world looks toward the Opening Ceremony, the action in Italy is already moving at full speed. From the high-speed training runs on the slopes to the tactical chess match on the curling ice, the 2026 Winter Games are officially live.
Every morning, I’ll be breaking down the essential storylines, the must-watch matchups, and giving my largely uneducated predictions across every event. Whether you're here for the precision of the rink or the chaos of the downhill, here is your roadmap for Day -1.
Women’s Ice Hockey: The Quest for Gold Begins
The Ice Hockey gets underway on day -1, with the women's tournament beginning with Canada and the USA being overwhelming favourites to battle for Gold later in the tournament, while the Czechs, Finns, Swedes and Swiss will all fancy their chances of a medal. The format is two groups of 5 teams, with all of group A and the 3 best teams in group B advancing to the quarter finals, 3 points for a normal time win 2 points for an overtime or penalty shootout win and 1 point for an overtime or penalty shootout loss.
Day -1 Fixtures:
Sweden vs Germany - Group B 12:10 CET
Italy vs France - Group B 14:40 CET
USA vs Czechia - Group A 16:40 CET
Finland vs Canada - Group A 21:10 CET
Sweden vs Germany: The tournament officially opens with a high-stakes Group B clash. Sweden (ranked #1 in the group) enters with a roster bolstered by PWHL experience and elite goaltending from Emma Söderberg. Germany is making their first Olympic appearance since 2014 and relies on a disciplined, "trap" style defence led by Sandra Abstreiter. Sweden's superior puck possession and depth should be the difference-maker here, but don't expect a blowout against a gritty German side.
Prediction: Sweden 4-1 Germany
France vs. Italy: This is a historic moment as France makes their Olympic debut against the host nation. Italy, the lowest-ranked team in the field, will have the home crowd at Milano Rho Arena behind them, but they lack the international experience of France's top stars like Chloé Aurard-Bushee. Both teams see this as their "must-win" game to avoid a winless tournament. Expect high emotions and plenty of penalties as these underdogs battle for a crucial three points.
Prediction: France 3-2 Italy
USA vs. Czechia: The Americans open their gold-medal pursuit against a Czechia team that has rapidly become the "best of the rest" in Europe. While Czechia’s Kristýna Kaltounková is one of the most exciting players in the PWHL right now, the US depth—led by veteran Hilary Knight and the speed of Taylor Heise—is likely too much for the Czech defence to handle for 60 minutes. Czechia may keep it close for a period, but the US should pull away late.
Prediction: USA 5-2 Czechia
Canada vs. Finland: The defending gold medalists meet the perennial bronze favourites. Canada arrives with an all-PWHL roster and the legendary Marie-Philip Poulin looking to add to her "Captain Clutch" resume. Finland always plays Canada tough, using a physical defensive style and world-class goaltending to frustrate the North Americans. However, Canada’s relentless four-line pressure is historically too much for the Finns to sustain over a full game.
Prediction: Canada 6-2 Finland
Mixed Doubles Curling:
The mixed doubles curling also carries on with a packed three-session schedule that will start to dictate the shape of the leaderboard.
Session 2 - 10:05 CET
Great Britain vs. Estonia
Czechia vs. Sweden
Norway vs. USA
South Korea vs. Italy
Session 3 - 14:35 CET
USA vs. Switzerland
Norway vs. Canada
Session 4 - 19:05 CET
Canada vs. Italy
Switzerland vs. South Korea
Estonia vs. Sweden
Czechia vs. Great Britain
Great Britain vs. Estonia: Great Britain enters this match with all the momentum after their gritty win over Norway, proving they can handle both high-stakes pressure and unexpected arena delays. Estonia showed they are a threat by taking Switzerland to an extra end today, but they’ll need to sharpen their late-game execution to stay with the Brits. Dodds and Mouat are specialists at keeping the house clean when they have the lead, which might frustrate the aggressive Estonian style. Expect Britain to control the pace early and force Estonia into low-percentage shots.
Prediction: Great Britain 8-4 Estonia
Czechia vs. Sweden: Sweden looked like the most polished duo on the ice during their opening demolition of South Korea, displaying a level of weight control that nobody else matched today. Czechia had its moments against Canada, specifically a huge three-ender that showed its scoring potential, but they struggled to string consistent ends together. The Wranå siblings are excellent at placing guards that complicate the game for their opponents, and if the Czechs can't find their draw weight early, this could get away from them quickly. Sweden's consistency makes them the clear favourites here.
Prediction: Sweden 9-3 Czechia
Norway vs. USA: Norway is in a dangerous spot after their opening loss to Britain and cannot afford to start the tournament 0-2. They face the American duo of Thiesse and Dropkin, who are making their highly anticipated Olympic debut with fresh legs and a point to prove. The Norwegians have the advantage of being "ice-settled" after today's play, but the Americans possess a high-power hitting game that can blow an end open at any moment. This should be a back-and-forth battle where Norway’s veteran composure is tested by American aggression.
Prediction: Norway 7-6 USA
South Korea vs. Italy: The home crowd at Cortina will finally get to see their gold medal heroes in action. Italy had a bye today while South Korea suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Sweden, so the Koreans will be desperate to find a rhythm. However, Constantini and Mosaner are widely considered the most efficient pair in the world, and they historically thrive under the spotlight. Italy’s ability to use the sweeping power of Mosaner to salvage difficult shots should be the difference against a Korean team that is still searching for its form.
Prediction: Italy 8-2 South Korea
USA vs. Switzerland: The Americans enter their second match of the day facing a Swiss duo that looked incredibly comfortable with the ice speed during their opening win against Estonia. This is a classic clash of styles; Thiesse and Dropkin prefer a high-velocity hitting game to keep the house clear, while the Schwallers are masters of the "finesse" game, often placing stones in positions that are nearly impossible to out-draw. If the USA cannot manufacture multiple-point ends with their power, the Swiss will likely "nickel and dime" them with consistent singles.
Prediction: USA 5-7 Switzerland
Norway vs. Canada: This is a massive heavyweight encounter between two teams that have occupied the Olympic podium for years. Canada looked like the most dangerous team in the field today, dismantling Czechia with an aggressive strategy that puts constant pressure on the opposition's guards. Norway’s Skaslien and Nedregotten are the ultimate defensive specialists, but they will have their hands full trying to contain Brett Gallant’s ability to make high-difficulty runbacks. It will likely come down to which female lead can better manage the draw weight in the high-pressure 8th end.
Prediction: Norway 6-8 Canada
Canada vs. Italy: This is the undisputed game of the day as the tournament favourites meet the defending Olympic champions on their home ice. Italy’s Constantini and Mosaner are currently riding a wave of momentum and will have a thunderous Cortina crowd behind them, but Canada’s Peterman and Gallant have the tactical depth to silence any arena. Expect a very cautious start with both teams avoiding risky shots until the Power Play is called in the late stages. It is a true pick-em game that will likely be decided by a measurement on the final stone of the night.
Prediction: Canada 7-8 Italy
Switzerland vs. South Korea: The Swiss husband-and-wife duo will look to utilise their superior tactical placement against a South Korean team that struggled significantly with the heavy ice conditions on day one. Kim and Jeong are known for a high-risk style that involves putting a lot of stones in play, which plays right into the hands of a disciplined Swiss side that excels at waiting for their opponents to make the first mistake. If Switzerland can establish an early two-point lead, it is disciplined enough to peel its way to a comfortable victory. Prediction: Switzerland 8-4 South Korea
Estonia vs. Sweden: This is a fascinating rematch of the 2024 World Championship final. Estonia proved they belong among the elite today by pushing Switzerland to the brink, but they now face a Swedish sibling duo that looked absolutely flawless in their opening session. The Wranås are currently playing with a level of confidence that makes them very difficult to steal against. Estonia needs to be bold with its stone placement early on, but Sweden’s ability to execute complex double-takeouts should allow it to maintain control of the scoreboard throughout.
Prediction: Estonia 5-6 Sweden
Czechia vs. Great Britain: Great Britain enters this game looking to maintain their perfect start against a Czech team that is still searching for consistency at this level. While Zelingrova and Chabicovsky showed they can score big ends, they often struggle with the "simple" draws that Dodds and Mouat make look effortless. The Brits are likely to play a very "clean" game, limiting the number of guards in play and forcing the Czechs to make difficult, long-range hits. Expect a professional performance from the British duo as they look to secure a top spot in the standings early.
Prediction: Czechia 3-9 Great Britain
Snowboard: Men’s Big Air Qualifications
The high-fliers also take to the skies tomorrow for the first time at the Livigno Snow Park for the Men’s Big Air qualifiers. With only the men competing on Day -1, the focus is entirely on a field that has pushed the boundaries of rotation and axis over the last twelve months. This season has been defined by the hunt for the "clean" 2160, and tomorrow’s session will be a brutal cut down to the final twelve.
The qualification format is a test of both peak performance and consistency, like the medal round. Each rider is given three runs to showcase their best tricks. In this qualifying round, only the single highest score from those three attempts is used to determine the rankings. This gives riders a "buffer" to fail on a high-difficulty trick in run one or two and still recover. Judges evaluate each jump on a scale of 1-100 based on the "Big Four": Difficulty (rotations and flips), Amplitude (the massive height and distance), Execution (keeping the grab held throughout the trick), and Landing (stomping the bolts without "washing out"). Only the top 12 riders will advance to the final.
Su Yiming (China): The defending Olympic champion enters Milano-Cortina with the heaviest weight on his shoulders. After a golden debut in Beijing, Su has spent this season proving he wasn't a "one-hit wonder," taking podiums at the Big Air World Cup in Beijing and the X Games. He remains the king of technical landings, and his ability to stomp quadruple corks with style makes him the man to beat.
Marcus Kleveland (Norway): Widely regarded as the most creative snowboarder on the planet, Kleveland is looking for the Olympic Big Air gold that has so far eluded him. He dominated the World Tour this season, claiming yet another X Games gold and consistently landing his signature "nollie" flips that no one else in the field can replicate. If the kickers are as large as reported, Kleveland’s raw power gives him a massive edge.
Taiga Hasegawa (Japan): The young sensation has been the most consistent performer of the 2025/26 season. Hasegawa made history as the first rider to land three different 1980 rotations in a single season. He comes into these Games as the reigning World Champion and has been the most vocal about attempting a 2160 in the Olympic final. Expect him to play it safe in qualifiers with a "standard" 1800 to ensure his spot.
Valentino Guseli (Australia): The teenage prodigy is the ultimate all-rounder, but Big Air is where his height truly shines. Guseli has had a breakout season, taking the Crystal Globe for the overall Park & Pipe standings. His "huge air" style makes him a fan favourite, and his ability to land deep in the landing zone without washing out will be crucial if the Livigno wind picks up.
Mons Røisland (Norway): The silver medalist from 2022, is the veteran presence in the field. While he might not have the "triple-twenty" technicality of the younger Japanese riders, his execution and "steeze" are second to none. He’s had a quiet season on the podium, but he is a notorious big-event performer who knows exactly how to score high with the judges by prioritising clean grabs over raw rotation.
Hiroaki Kunitake (Japan): Kunitake has been the silent assassin of the Japanese team this year. While Hasegawa gets the headlines, Kunitake has been consistently landing 1800s with more "poke" and style in his grabs. He finished in the top three of the World Cup standings this season and is a safe bet to cruise through qualifications into the top five.
Dusty Henricksen (USA): Dusty brings a "skate" style to the big jump that often confuses but delights the judges. He won't necessarily throw the most rotations, but he will do a trick that nobody else does—likely with an unconventional grab or a unique tweak. After a strong X Games performance in January, he is the top American hope to disrupt the Japanese/Norwegian podium monopoly.
Prediction for qualification order top 3:
1st: Marcus Kleveland
2nd: Taiga Hasegawa
3rd: Hiroaki Kunitake
The Final Word
Between the clinical precision of the curling stones and the chaotic 2000-degree rotations in Livigno, Day -1 is the moment these Games truly expand into a multi-venue spectacle. The pressure is mounting, the rivalries are heating up, and the first major eliminations are just hours away.
Join the Conversation: Which result from the ice hockey openers surprised you the most? Do you think the US can maintain their Group A dominance, or are the Czechs ready to pull off a historic upset? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
What’s Next? I’ll be back tomorrow with a breakdown of the Opening Ceremony and the first medal events of the 2026 Winter Games. Until then, keep your eyes on the ice.
See you on the mountains! — Daniel Mott
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