Ice hockey fans queue for US-Latvia game as NHL players return to Olympics for first time in 12 year

Описание: (12 Feb 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

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Milan, Italy - 12 February 2026
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of fans lining up to attend the US-Latvia ice hockey game
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Konstantinos Kozakos, ice hockey fan:

“I love ice hockey, I’ve been playing it my whole life and I’ve been watching it so it’s the only reason I’m in Italy, it’s for ice hockey.”
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Burke Smith, ice hockey fan and Team USA supporter:
“Well this is the first time in 12 years that the NHL players are back at the Olympics so these are the best players in the world so this is truly, in a long time, this is the best chance to watch a team play, it’s the most popular we’ve been in a long time. That’s why a lot of people are here. I know over the last three Olympics we probably didn’t have as much tourism as this just because it was junior teams, or whatever it was, so these are the best players in the world and that’s why there are a lot of people here.”
4. Various of queues and fans
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Carson Palmer, ice hockey fan and Team USA supporter, visiting with his mother Lisa:

“Especially with Heated Rivalry (television series), you saw the sense of community and camaraderie that it brought all these people together in a sport that not many people are familiar with, obviously a lot of people are familiar with hockey, but for people who don’t actively watch it, I think the popularity of the show and everything blowing up on social media-wise has made a further interest in the sport.”
6. Wide of queue
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Brianna Badje, ice hockey fan and Team USA supporter:

“I think it’s a athlete base that’s been untapped and (when) I think about American sports being from the USA, I think there’s a lot of sports where you get paid a lot of money and I think you also get paid a lot of money in the NHL but I think they’re just a different breed. They bring a different level of toughness to the game.”
8. Mid of Latvia supporter
9. Wide of Latvia supporters chanting and playing drum
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Emils Zubils, ice hockey fan and Team Latvia supporter:

“Ice hockey is (the) national sport in Latvia. That’s why we are here. We’re always supporting the Latvian team in the Ice Hockey World Champs (championships) and the Olympics as well.”
11. Wide of Latvian fans chanting in queue as drum beats in background
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Putrims, ice hockey fan and Team Latvia supporter:

“Ice Hockey is a game that every country can participate in and win. We’ll show that. That every country can win.”
13. Wide of queue
14. Wide of stadium in distance
STORYLINE:
Long lines formed in Milan on Thursday as NHL players returned to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years.

Fans cheered as they gathered for the US-Latvia men’s ice hockey game outside Milan’s Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The match is part of the most geographically dispersed Winter Games in history, with events spread across northern Italy, but Milan is hosting several ice hockey fixtures including this highly anticipated group stage clash.

For many supporters, this game carries added significance.

Ice hockey at the Winter Olympics features national teams competing for gold, but this year marks the return of NHL players to the Games for the first time in 12 years.

The NHL, the National Hockey League, is North America’s premier professional ice hockey league, widely regarded as the highest standard of the sport in the world.


Burke Smith, a Team USA supporter, said that has changed the atmosphere.














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