The women’s hockey tournament at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games is set to commence on February 4, 2026. Team Canada will face Finland in the tournament’s opening game, scheduled for 3:10 p.m. ET at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena. Canada aims to defend its gold medal, achieved at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, where they defeated Finland 11-1 in the preliminary round.
Canada vs. Finland: A Historic Rivalry
Finland secured a bronze medal in Beijing, marking their fourth Olympic medal in women’s hockey, all of which have been bronze. The upcoming match carries the weight of their previous encounters, including notable meetings in the IIHF Women’s World Championship. Last April, Canada triumphed over Finland with a 5-0 victory during the preliminary rounds, followed by an 8-1 win in the semifinals.
Key Statistics and Recent Performance
- Canada’s 2025 Women’s World Championship results:
- Lost to USA 4-3 in the gold medal game.
- Lost all four games to USA in the Rivalry Series.
- Grouping for the tournament:
- Group A: Canada, USA, Finland, Czechia, Switzerland.
- Group B: Germany, Sweden, Japan, Italy, France.
Both Canada and the USA expect to face each other in the gold medal match, as they have historically competed in six of the last seven Olympic finals featuring women’s hockey. However, reaching that coveted final will require performance in the preliminary round, which runs from February 5-10, spread across the Milano Rho and Milano Santagiulia arenas.
Upcoming Schedule for Team Canada
Following their opener against Finland, Canada will compete against:
- Switzerland on February 7 at 3:10 p.m. ET
- Czechia on February 9 at 3:10 p.m. ET
- USA on February 10 at 2:10 p.m. ET
The quarterfinals are scheduled for February 13-14, with semifinals on February 16, leading up to the gold and bronze medal games on February 19.
Team Canada Roster Highlights
The Canadian squad consists of 16 players from the gold medal team of Beijing 2022. Highlights include:
- Sarah Nurse: Top scorer at Beijing with 18 points.
- Marie-Philip Poulin: Captain, second in scoring with 17 points.
- Brianne Jenner: Led the tournament in goals with nine.
Nurse, averaging over a point-per-game in the current Professional Women’s Hockey League season, is set for her third Olympic appearance. Jenner will play in her fourth Olympic Games, and Poulin, participating in her fifth, remains a key figure in the lineup.
Additionally, seven athletes will make their Olympic debuts, including Jenn Gardiner, who had an impressive performance at the last IIHF Women’s World Championship.
As the tournament approaches, both teams are well-prepared for this intense competition, promising an exciting match as Canada opens its quest for Olympic gold against Finland.
