Shannon Coulter
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (FEB. 5)
The road to a sixth Olympic gold medal begins Thursday as Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team faces Finland to begin Group A play at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan.
How We Got Here
The 23-player roster named to represent Team Canada was announced Jan. 9, and features a mix of experience and first-timers. Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team includes 16 players who helped capture a fifth gold medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and 20 who earned a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Seven players—Jenn Gardiner, Julia Gosling, Sophie Jaques, Kristin O’Neill, Kayle Osborne, Kati Tabin and Daryl Watts—will make their Olympic debuts in Milan.
Last Game
Canada wrapped up the Rivalry Series against the United States in December, falling 4-1 to the Americans in the series finale in Edmonton. Brianne Jenner provided all the offence, scoring her 50th goal with Canada’s National Women’s Team, while Ann-Renée Desbiens made 28 saves.
Last Meeting
On the Olympic stage, the Canadians and Finns met in Group A action in Beijing, with Canada earning an 11-1 win. Sarah Fillier opened the scoring just 61 seconds into the game. Jenner and Sarah Nurse each recorded hat tricks, with Jenner adding an assist for a four-point performance, and Natalie Spooner had four helpers.
More recently, Canada faced Finland in the semifinals of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, recording a 8-1 win to secure a spot in the gold medal game. Watts scored twice and Claire Thompson had a goal and two assists for the Canadians, who scored the final eight goals after the Finns struck in the game’s first minute.
What to Watch
As they usually are, all eyes are on Marie-Philip Poulin. The Canadian captain is within striking distance of the all-time Olympic goal-scoring record, sitting just one behind another icon of the game—Hayley Wickenheiser. Poulin has played 22 Olympic games (four back of Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford for the most by a Canadian), recording 17 goals and 35 points. Milano Cortina will mark the fifth Games for the Beauceville, Quebec, native, making her just the third Canadian (alongside Wickenheiser and Hefford) to play five times on the biggest stage in sports.
Outside of Canada and the United States, Finland has won the most Olympic medals—taking home four bronze medals (1998, 2010, 2018, 2022). There are six Finns making their Olympic debuts (Sanni Ahola, Ida Kuoppala, Emilia Kyrkkö, Julia Schalin, Elli Suoranta and Siiri Yrjölä) and four who play in the PWHL (Ahola – Ottawa, Michelle Karvinen – Vancouver, Ronja Savolainen – Ottawa, Susanna Tapani – Boston). This is the fifth Olympics for Karvienen and the fourth for Tapani. And let’s not forget the legendary Jenni Hiirikoski; like her Canadian counterpart, the Finnish captain will play in her fifth Games, having earned Best Defence honours in 2014 and 2018, and a place on the media all-star team in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
A Look Back
This marks the eighth meeting between the Canada and Finland at the Olympic Winter Games, and Canada has won every matchup so far.
The last time these teams played in Italy was at the 2006 Games, where Canada earned a 6-0 semifinal win. Cherie Piper scored twice, Gillian Apps had a goal and three assists, Wickenheiser recorded a goal and two helpers and Charline Labonté made 17 saves for the shutout.
All-time record: Canada leads 7-0 Canada goals: 40 Finland goals: 7