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Top-seeded Canada faces an early deficit against Czechia in a high-stakes men’s ice hockey quarterfinal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with Czechia leading 2-1 after the first period in a winner-advances, loser-goes-home matchup Wednesday at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena.

The game, which began at 10:40 a.m. ET (16:40 CET), pits a dominant Canadian squad — undefeated in group play with a 20-3 goal differential — against a resilient Czechia team that fell 5-0 to Canada in their tournament opener but advanced through the qualification round with a 3-2 win over Denmark on Tuesday. Sidney Crosby appeared to suffer an injury after a hit from Radko Gudas, limping off, adding urgency for Canada to rally.

Macklin Celebrini scored Canada’s lone first-period goal, his fifth of the tournament, but Czechia responded with two quick tallies to take the lead into the intermission. The winner advances to Friday’s semifinals, while the loser ends its medal pursuit.

Fans worldwide can catch the action through official broadcasters and streaming platforms, with several free or low-cost options available depending on location.

In the United States The game airs exclusively on Peacock, the primary streaming home for the 2026 Winter Olympics, with live coverage also on USA Network. Peacock requires a subscription starting at $10.99/month (with ads) or $5.99 for a limited-time promotional rate in some offers. Free trials may be available through partners like DIRECTV Stream, which offers a trial period for new users to access USA Network channels without immediate cost. NBCOlympics.com and the NBC Sports app provide authenticated streams for cable/satellite subscribers.

In Canada CBC, TSN and Sportsnet hold rights, with free streaming on CBC Gem — the public broadcaster’s ad-supported platform accessible without a subscription. CBC Gem offers live coverage and on-demand replays. TSN and Sportsnet+ require subscriptions or cable login, but CBC Gem serves as the primary free option for Canadian viewers.

International Viewing Rights vary by country: In many regions, the Olympic Channel on Olympics.com streams select events subject to geo-restrictions. Broadcasters include Nine in Australia, TV Globo/CazéTV in Brazil, and others. Check local listings or the official Milano Cortina 2026 site for rights holders. VPNs may enable access to free streams like CBC Gem from abroad, though compliance with terms is advised.

Key Viewing Details

• Time: 10:40 a.m. ET / 7:40 a.m. PT / 16:40 CET
• Venue: Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, Milan
• Primary U.S. Stream: Peacock (subscription; potential free trial via partners)
• Free U.S. Option: DIRECTV Stream trial for USA Network
• Free Canadian Option: CBC Gem
• Additional: NBCOlympics.com (authenticated), Olympics.com (select regions)

This rematch carries extra weight after Canada’s commanding group-stage win, but Czechia has shown fight with strong goaltending from Lukas Dostal and physical play. Live updates and highlights are available on NHL.com, ESPN, CBC Sports and Olympics.com.

The quarterfinals continue with Finland vs. Switzerland (12:10 p.m. ET), U.S. vs. Sweden (3:10 p.m. ET) and earlier Slovakia’s 6-2 win over Germany. Semifinals follow Thursday, with the gold-medal game Sunday, Feb. 22.

As the second period approaches, Canada looks to erase the deficit and keep its gold-medal hopes alive in a tournament featuring NHL stars for the first time since 2014.

Former Disney Channel star Christy Carlson Romano shared a tearful health update on Instagram Tuesday, revealing that a recent cancer screening test returned positive results while her husband’s came back negative, prompting her to schedule further testing amid a family history of the disease.

The 41-year-old actress, best known for her role as Ren Stevens on the Disney series “Even Stevens” and as the voice of Kim Possible in the animated series, posted an emotional video from Florida, where she is currently filming a project. In the clip, Romano explained that she and her husband, Brendan Rooney, opted for the screening due to strong familial cancer risks — both of her parents have been diagnosed with cancer — and received the results shortly before her trip.

“My husband’s came back completely negative,” Romano said, pausing and sighing. “Mine did not come back negative, so basically what that means is, I may have stageable cancer.” She added that the next step is a PET scan — a positron emission tomography imaging test using a radioactive tracer to detect cancer cells and determine location or spread — but she is currently “fighting with companies” to secure insurance coverage for the procedure.

“I’m nervous and a bit scared (heck who wouldn’t be!),” Romano continued, emphasizing the seriousness of cancer, especially as a mother of two young daughters. She stressed the importance of proactive health measures, saying, “Cancer is everywhere. Which is why I got this test,” and encouraged fans to prioritize screenings. Romano expressed reliance on faith, family support and optimism, noting, “It’s time to have a strong sense of faith and know that it’s in God’s hands, most of it.”

The actress, who lives in Austin, Texas, with Rooney and their children, chose to share publicly to raise awareness and inspire others facing similar concerns. She promised to provide updates as more information becomes available, underscoring that she is not overreacting given the potential implications.

Romano’s announcement drew widespread support across social media, with fans, fellow celebrities and outlets like People, TMZ and E! News covering the story. Many praised her vulnerability and courage in discussing a deeply personal matter, particularly as a public figure who has navigated other challenges, including a 2025 incident where she was accidentally shot in the face during a family mishap.

No specific type of cancer or additional details on the screening — such as whether it was a blood-based test for tumor markers, genetic risk assessment or another method — were disclosed in the video. Romano has not indicated symptoms or prior diagnoses, and the positive result indicates the need for confirmatory diagnostics rather than a confirmed cancer diagnosis.

The news comes during a busy period for Romano, who has maintained a steady career through acting, podcasting (including “Vulnerable” and “The Really Good Podcast”), voice work and social media content creation. She has been open about mental health struggles, motherhood and life after child stardom in recent years.

As Romano awaits the PET scan and potential follow-up care, supporters have flooded her comments with messages of encouragement, prayers and shared stories of resilience. The actress’s transparency highlights ongoing conversations about early detection, family health histories and navigating medical systems, particularly insurance hurdles for advanced imaging.

Romano has not announced any changes to her work schedule, and representatives did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. Fans are encouraged to follow her Instagram (@thechristyromano) for any developments. (Click here to watch video)

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