The Canadian women's national team With five Olympic gold medals, Canada is the most successful team in Olympic ice hockey history. However, Canada will not be entering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina as the favorite. For the first time in many years, the team will be competing as the underdog behind the USA, after a decisive loss in the recent Rivalry Series (four defeats, 7-24 goal difference).
Head coach Troy Ryan is relying on a wealth of experience: 16 players from the Olympic gold medal-winning team of Beijing 2022 are back on the roster, and 20 players were part of the silver medal-winning team of the 2025 World Championship. The roster consists entirely of PWHL players and combines experience, depth, and international class.
The tournament got off to a convincing start: Canada won their opening match convincingly 4-0 against a determined Swiss team. This was followed by a dominant 5-1 victory against the Czech Republic. However, in the prestigious match against the USA, the team suffered a clear 0-5 defeat. The Canadians were able to win the game, which had been postponed due to norovirus cases in Team Finland, 5-0.
Key players / Players to watch
Marie-Philip Poulin remains the central figure in attack. The captain has been the face of Canadian ice hockey for years. However, Poulin had to leave the game against the Czech Republic with a lower-body injury and missed the subsequent match against the USA. Her health is therefore a crucial factor for the rest of the tournament.
Alongside Poulin, experienced players like Laura Stacey, Natalie Spooner, Brianne Jenner, Blayre Turnbull, Emma Maltais, and Sarah Nurse drive the offense. With Sarah Fillier, Canada possesses additional scoring ability, while Daryl Watts, one of the PWHL's highest-scoring players, adds dynamism.
Several players are making their Olympic debuts in Milan: forwards Kristin O'Neill, Julia Gosling, Jenn Gardiner, Daryl Watts, and defenders Kati Tabin and Sophie Jaques are all in the Olympic squad for the first time. Goalkeeper Kayle Osborne is also making her Olympic debut, but is still waiting for her first appearance in the tournament.
Renata Fast and Ella Shelton are the pillars of the defense. Fast, the reigning PWHL Defensive Player of the Year, dominates the transition game, while Shelton is invaluable on the power play and penalty kill. Jocelyne Larocque brings tremendous experience to Canada, complemented by Erin Ambrose, Claire Thompson, Sophie Jaques, and Kati Tabin, who provide mobility and game control.
Canada boasts a top-class goaltending lineup. Emerance Maschmeyer started with a shutout in the 4-0 win against Switzerland. Ann-Renée Desbiens was given the nod against the Czech Republic and also started in goal against the USA before being replaced by Maschmeyer in the 52nd minute. Both are among the strongest goaltenders in the PWHL and provide Canada with great stability.
Special connections in direct comparison
The matchup offers several direct team constellations from the PWHL:
Nina Jobst-Smith meets her teammates from Vancouver: Jenn Gardiner, Sarah Nurse, Sophie Jaques, Claire Thompson and Emerance Maschmeyer.
Sandra Abstreiter also faces some familiar faces: Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, Erin Ambrose, Kati Tabin and Ann-Renée Desbiens are several of her Montreal teammates who play in the Canadian squad.
Analysis and outlook for the duel with Germany
Canada brings enormous experience, squad depth, and individual talent. At the same time, the heavy defeat against the USA showed that the team is vulnerable, especially when key players are missing or offensive efficiency is lacking.
For the German women's national team, a duel with Canada demands the utmost defensive discipline and consistent transition play. Canada typically dominates puck possession and pace, but compact structures can slow the game down. Furthermore, while the team's depth offers quality, it also brings new dynamics with several Olympic debutants.
Canada is a clear medal contender, while Germany must prepare for a physical and fast-paced game. Whether the Canadians can successfully defend their title depends largely on the fitness of their key players, the stability of their goalkeeping, and a potential rematch with the USA.
TV Note
The match will be broadcast on free-to-air television by ARD and Eurosport. It will also be available in its entirety via the Sportschau, Sportstudio, and Eurosport live streams.