Canada Unveils Experienced Women’s Olympic Hockey Team for 2026

The Canadian women’s hockey team has announced a roster brimming with international experience as it prepares for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026. The 23-player lineup, revealed on Friday, features 20 athletes from the squad that secured a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships in the Czech Republic. Additionally, 16 players were part of the team that clinched gold at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing.

Marie-Philip Poulin, the team captain and a four-time Olympian, aims to earn her fourth gold medal in Milan. Achieving this milestone would tie her with three other Canadian women for the most Olympic golds in ice hockey history, encompassing both men’s and women’s competitions. Poulin’s leadership will be crucial as Canada seeks to add to its record of five Olympic gold medals.

The roster also includes three of the top five goal scorers from the previous season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL): Poulin, Brianne Jenner, and Daryl Watts. Notably, Watts will make her Olympic debut, alongside Jennifer Gardiner, who was the second-leading scorer at the World Championships with ten points, just two behind Poulin.

Another key player is Sarah Nurse, who holds the record for the most assists and points in a single women’s Olympic tournament, achieving 13 assists and 18 points in Beijing. Despite missing a significant portion of the current PWHL season due to injury, Nurse is expected to be fit for the Olympics.

The Canadian team is set to open its Olympic campaign against Finland on February 5, 2026. A highly anticipated match against the United States will occur during the final round of Group A play on February 10, 2026. The gold medal game is scheduled for February 19, 2026, where Canada will aim to assert its dominance in women’s ice hockey once again.

As the team prepares for this prestigious event, the blend of seasoned veterans and emerging talents promises an exciting competition ahead.