Winter Universiade 2025/26

The Winter Universiade is an international multi-sport event organized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), now officially branded as the FISU World University Games. Ice hockey has been a central part of the Winter Games since the second edition in Villars, Switzerland, in 1962. The tournament format typically involves 10 to 12 men's teams and 6 to 8 women's teams. The structure consists of a preliminary round-robin stage divided into groups, followed by knockout playoffs for medals and placement games for lower-ranked teams. Historically, the format has evolved from small single-group round-robins in the 1960s to the current standardized group-and-knockout system.

The competition is not a national league but a global university championship. There is no promotion or relegation; participation is determined by FISU invitations and eligibility verification. Athletes must be currently enrolled university students, typically aged 17 to 28. Teams are selected by national university sports bodies rather than through continental qualification leagues. The key distinction of the Winter Universiade is its eligibility criteria: unlike the IIHF World U20 Championship or the Olympics, the Universiade is exclusively for university students. This allows for a mix of junior prospects and older student-athletes.

Russia and Canada are the most successful nations. Russia holds the record for the most gold medals, followed closely by Canada. The current men's champion is Canada, having won gold at the 2025 Winter World University Games in Turin. Canada also won the 2023 edition in Lake Placid. The women's ice hockey tournament was introduced later, debuting at the 2009 Winter Universiade in Harbin, China. Canada won that inaugural women's title.