MILAN - Canada eyes a repeat Olympic gold medal in women's hockey, facing a heavily favored U.S. squad in Thursday's final. The Americans have dominated the tournament, outscoring opponents 31-1 and entering the championship game with a five-game shutout streak.
Canada's path has been more challenging, including a 5-0 preliminary round loss to the U.S. and a narrow 2-1 semifinal victory over Switzerland. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who missed two group stage games including the loss to the U.S. with a knee injury, returned to score twice in the semifinal, setting a new Olympic goals record at 20.
The U.S. boasts a seven-game winning streak against Canada, highlighted by a 4-3 overtime victory in the 2025 world championships. "You’re playing for an Olympic gold medal. It’s going to be the hardest game you play in in your whole life," stated Canadian forward Blayre Turnbull.
U.S. head coach Ulf Lundberg described the American team as "23 first-rounders," underscoring their depth.
Despite a slight concern over defender Claire Thompson's upper-body injury, Canadian head coach Troy Ryan expects her to be ready for the final. Goaltending will be critical, with Canada likely relying on Ann-Renée Desbiens, who posted a .956 save percentage against the U.S. in the 2022 Beijing Games.
U.S. captain Hilary Knight noted the team's ability to "push the pace and push the style of the game forward." The American power play has converted 4-of-20 opportunities, while their penalty kill has yet to concede a goal. Canada's power play, however, leads the tournament at 7-for-19 against non-U.S. competition.
Canada aims to leverage its Olympic finals experience, with numerous players having competed in previous gold medal games. "It’s still nerve-racking even going into my third one, so being able to lean into that experience and understanding that we have been here before, we know what it takes," said forward Sarah Nurse.