Canada entered the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics hoping to repeat the magic of Beijing 2022 when they beat Team USA 3‑2 in overtime to win gold in women’s ice hockey. With a roster full of experienced veterans and Olympic medalists, the Canadian team was expected to dominate early. But this year, things didn’t go as planned. As Team USA’s reliance on a new generation of NCAA stars proved to be a smart move.

On February 10, the U.S. faced Canada in a crucial preliminary round. The game carried extra weight because both teams wanted a strong seed heading into the knockout rounds.

From the opening puck drop, the United States took control. At 3:45 of the first period, Caroline Harvey scored with a confident shot from near the slot, giving the U.S. an early lead. Later in the period, at 17:18, Hannah Bilka added a second goal, assisted by Abby Murphy and Harvey.

The Americans led 2‑0 after the first period and never looked back. Their defense was solid which allowing only four shots on goal in the first 20 minutes. Kirsten Simms was credited with a goal pushing the lead to 3‑0. With an assist on Harvey’s goal, Hilary Knight tied the Olympic points record for Team USA reaching 32 points alongside Jenny Potter.

One reason Team USA looked so strong was its deep group of current NCAA players.

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In this game, the U.S. lineup featured seven NCAA athletes, including Caroline Harvey,  Laila Edwards, Ava McNaughton, Kirsten Simms, Haley Winn, Joy Dunne, and Tessa Janecke.Even Hannah Bilka, who became the second goal-scorer, went through the NCAA program with Boston College and Ohio State prior to becoming a professional. These players assisted in putting in four out of the five points in the game.

On the Canadian side, Veteran goaltender Ann‑Renee Desbiens was constantly under pressure as the Americans forechecked aggressively and generated sustained offensive chances. Desbiens has plenty of experience and NCAA pedigree, but the sheer pace and volume from the U.S. attack limited Canada’s ability to control the flow.

In the meantime, the American defence largely held back the experienced Canadian forwards such as Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse, Sarah Fillier, and Natalie Spooner. Canada had difficulties keeping linear zone time, or generating quality scoring opportunities against a disciplined U.S. unit that crowded space and pressed the carrier of the puck.

Jenner, a longtime leader was pushed into a more central role by moving from third line right wing to first line center in an attempt to spark the attack but the adjustment didn’t shift momentum as hoped.

Despite all their efforts, Canada struggled…and the big reason was they missed a key player who usually drives the team’s offense left a gap they couldn’t overcome.

Major blow for Canada as Captain injured ahead of a major game

Marie‑Philip Poulin, captain of Canada’s women’s hockey team, suffered a lower-body injury during their 5‑1 preliminary-round win over Czechia. About nine minutes into the first period Poulin took a hard hit from Kristyna Kaltounkova that made contact with her helmet. Officials called a two minute penalty on the play. Poulin briefly returned to the ice for a power play shift but quickly headed back to the bench and then to the locker room.

She did not came back in the rest of the game. The injury compelled Canada to declare about five hours prior to puck drop that Poulin was unfit to play in their high-stakes preliminary-round game with the United States. She was put down as day-to-day, and her condition ahead of future games such as the rearranged match against Finland, and possible knockout round matches, is still unknown.

The loss of Poulin is a big blow to Canada. She is also among the most awarded players in the country, having scored decisive goals in previous Olympic gold medal matches. Having scored 17 career Olympic goals (only one of the 17 goals shy of Hayley Wickenheiser women record) and with 74 points in 104 games against the U.S., Poulin is a primary offensive threat as well as the team driver both on the ice and off. Not only did her injury disrupt the lineup of Canada, but it also left a big gap in leadership.

Historically… winning the round-robin matchup often predicts gold and with Poulin out, Canada struggled to match Team USA’s intensity showing just how crucial one player can be in shaping the outcome.