Ranking 2026 Olympic Hockey Jerseys After Team USA Reveal

We're two months away from the Winter Olympics in Milan and even though we don't know the rosters, we do know what the teams will be wearing when they hit the ice.

Most of the 12 countries have released their jerseys for Milan (still waiting for you, Italy, Denmark, and Latvia), and if there's anything you've gotten to know about us, it's that we're going to judge them very closely. It's the first best-on-best Olympic men's tournament since 2014, and everyone should be dressed great for the occasion.

After Team USA released their jerseys a week ago, we've got the itch to rank out what we've seen and who are we to resist that urge? From the worst to the best, we'll give you our takes on each country's jerseys, and we promise not to be massive homers.

9. France

Mon dieu!

We're at a total loss as to what France was trying to accomplish with its jerseys for the Olympics. We've grown to love the "sport chicken" that's come to represent France at international sporting events, and were looking forward to seeing it in Milan, only to see it replaced by lines. Many, many lines.

Lines on the front, lines on the sleeves, lines everywhere. All the lines, all the time.

We'll chalk this up to being a fashion choice that's way above our heads that we'll never understand, but we'll take the opportunity to say that, as a hockey jersey, it just doesn't make any sense at all.

France is in a group with Canada, Czechia, and Switzerland when the Olympics start, and it's hard to see them having a good time dealing with those countries; now they won't even look good when they try.

8. Switzerland

It's tough to do something really groundbreaking and cool when the Swiss flag is red and white with a simple cross.

We'll give Switzerland credit for trying to do something more hockey-like with the shield for the cross and the ribbon-stripes through the middle of the jersey and sleeves to tie it all together.

We also realize we've put them in a difficult position, asking for more from them while also noting they don't have much to work with to make it better. We like what they've done, but we're left wanting more.

7. Canada

It should be really easy to nail the look for Team Canada when it comes to hockey. After all, they've got a legacy of incredible jerseys and designs to draw on, and using them as inspiration should make it even easier to come up with something iconic.

Instead, Canada's look for Milan is trying to be ultra-modern and bold.

This just ain't it.

The maple leaf is enormous and beveled, making it look like something meant more for a superhero than a hockey team.

What's more maddening about it is the hem stripes that don't even wrap around all the way. Just go full circle! Alas, these will probably look great on the ice, but as a standalone jersey, these feel severely lacking in charm while going over the top with a menacing aura.

6. Finland

The design Finland will be rocking in Milan is really unique, almost to a point it feels like we need an art degree to understand everything that's going on.

The heraldic lion takes center stage on the crest, wielding two swords and looking absolutely terrifying in the most respectful way. It's a gorgeous design and one that hasn't always been given priority in their uniforms. Now it's the main character, and we dig it.

The striping through the center of the jersey is what has us scratching our heads. It's artistic, with a gradient of blue, and since the Finnish flag is white with a blue cross, it makes sense. There's an hourglass-like design to the left of the lion that grabs our attention, however, and it's really distracting. Is it there on purpose? Is it meant to be a secret message? What's going on here?!

Finland's white jersey is the big winner here, and maybe if the blue jersey were a lighter shade, we'd like it more. Alas, it's more of a dark sea blue, which is just OK.

5. Sweden

It's impossible to hate on Sweden's jersey designs, but we do have some nitpicking to do.

The tre kronor crest design is legendary. It's the mark of Swedish hockey and is synonymous with the countless legendary players we've seen over the years. Börje Salming, Mats Sundin, Mats Näslund, Nicklas Lindström, Henrik Lundqvist, Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Henrik Zetterberg, Peter Forsberg... the list goes on. They've all proudly worn the three crowns, and it's as perfect as it gets in international hockey.

However, Sweden has gradually moved farther from the lighter shade of blue that's helped make it look so different over the years. Yes, skating in gold does its part to make that happen, but the lighter shade of blue they've used in the past has been replaced by navy, and that's not as fun on the eyes.

Sweden usually cracks our top three, but other countries have really stepped up their designs to unseat them.

4. Germany

The Germans are going to be huge underdogs at the Olympics on the ice, but man, are they ever going to look good on it.

Germany's jerseys for the Milan games are going to stand out, whether they're in yellow or black, and their menacing, flexing eagle crest on the front makes us want to find a tall stein of pilsner to watch Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stützle pile up the goals.

The color scheme makes us think of the Vancouver Canucks jerseys from the 80s and 90s, obviously, but the red, yellow, and black of Germany also make them unique among the 12 teams in the Olympic tournament, which are dominated by red, blue, and white in various arrays. That they're in a group with the United States, Denmark, and Latvia will only help them stand out even more.

3. Czechia

We're all about classic looks for countries at the Olympics and the Czechs absolutely nailed it with theirs.

The Czech crest, with lions and eagles, is as gorgeous as it is ornate, and the design of the shoulders and sleeves makes it a distinct style among all the countries. The Czechs have had similar styles in the past, and this one is just unique enough to stand out.

When we see Martin Nečas and David Pastrňák tearing up and down the ice in these uniforms, taking on Canada, France, and Switzerland in group action at the Olympics, it'll be hard not to think about Jaromír Jágr and Dominik Hašek when they do.

We're sure Jágr isn't playing, right?

2. United States

Something we've always wanted USA Hockey to do for international competition is use throwback designs and styles, because they're the best way for the team to look.

Now, they've done it.

Team USA's jerseys are essentially full throwbacks to their 1960 jerseys and that old school style isn't new (the white jerseys have been used by the World Junior teams in the past) but it is the best the United States has ever looked on the ice and borrowing the look used by the first men's team to win gold at the Olympics is a good way to set the tone for Milan.

Even better still: the men's and women's teams will be wearing the same styles at the 2026 Olympics, and that's the kind of synergy we're fans of around here. The U.S. will look spectacular at the Olympics, and if the men can win gold for the first time since 1980, those jerseys will become a permanent fixture.

1. Slovakia

Oh, baby, this is the stuff.

The Slovak crest was already one of the best designs around and a natural for use in hockey, but taking that and weaving in a mountainous design for both the blue and white sweaters? That's what we're talking about.

It's a creative design that highlights the country's crest, which is derived from its flag. We already know how well red, white, and blue work for a hockey jersey (naturally), but with this look, the Slovaks will be the best-dressed team in the tournament by far.

Slovakia will have its hands full in a group with Sweden, Finland, and Italy, but while that's not exactly the "group of death," it will be the most fashionable group in the tournament.