Road to Milano-Cortina: Six Nations Set for Para Ice Hockey Showdown in Norway

The journey to the Paralympic Winter Games Milano-Cortina 2026 will pass through a small Norwegian town this November, where dreams will be realised and heartbreak endured on the ice.

From 5–10 November 2025, Jessheim will play host to the World Para Ice Hockey Qualification Tournament — the last chance for nations to earn their spot on the sport’s grandest stage.

The contenders

Six teams will line up in Norway, each carrying the weight of expectation and ambition:

• Slovakia (6th, 2025 Buffalo A-Pool)
• Korea (7th, 2025 Buffalo A-Pool)
• Norway (8th, 2025 Buffalo A-Pool)
• Japan (2nd, 2025 Astana B-Pool)
• Sweden (3rd, 2025 Astana B-Pool)
• Kazakhstan (next eligible team from 2025 Astana B-Pool)

For some, it’s about redemption after falling short at the A-Pool World Championships in Buffalo. For others, it’s about seizing the opportunity to climb from the B-Pool and stake a claim among the world’s elite.

Italy’s decision

As host of Milano-Cortina 2026, Italy had the right to compete in Jessheim. Instead, they declined, already guaranteed a slot as host nation. Their absence has opened the door for Kazakhstan, a team eager to test itself against higher-ranked opposition. Italy’s Paralympic rank is now locked in at #8.

High stakes, higher emotions

“The Qualification Tournament is always one of the most exciting milestones on the road to the Paralympic Winter Games,” said Michelle Laflamme, World Para Ice Hockey Senior Manager. “These six teams will bring passion, determination, and the best of Para ice hockey to Jessheim, and we look forward to seeing which nations will claim their place in Milano-Cortina 2026.”

The stakes could not be clearer: win here, and a ticket to the Paralympics awaits; falter, and the dream of Milano-Cortina is gone.

Who’s already in

Five nations can already begin preparations for 2026. USA, Canada, Czechia, China, and Germany booked their Paralympic berths with top-five finishes at the Buffalo A-Pool earlier this year. Their presence in Milano-Cortina is assured.

For the six teams heading to Jessheim, however, the work is just beginning.

The countdown begins

Jessheim may not yet be a household name in Para sport, but come November, its rink will be the centre of the Para ice hockey world. The official game schedule will be unveiled in October, setting the stage for a tournament that will decide not only who qualifies, but who dares to dream bigger.

As the ice hardens in Norway, so too will the resolve of these six nations — each hoping to etch their name into the story of Milano-Cortina 2026.