2026 Winter Olympics: Final Team Canada Women’s roster projections

We’re less than two months away from the puck dropping in Milan, and teams are slowly starting to piece their rosters together for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

A team that is once again expected to be in the running for the gold medal is Canada. The North American powerhouse has won gold in five of the first seven women’s Olympic tournaments, including taking down the rival Americans in the championship game in Beijing in 2022.

However, unlike years past, the Canadians don’t seem as heavily favored. Along with losing to the United States in the IIHF Women’s World Championship Game last year, Canada was hammered by the U.S. in the Rivarly Series. It has brought up some doubts that the veteran core in red and white have what it takes to win it all in Italy in February.

That said, Team Canada will have plenty of talent to be in the running for the gold. However, it will be intriguing to see how head coach Troy Ryan tinkers with the lineup to better prepare for the Americans.

Let’s take a look at my final projections of those who will crack Canada’s Olympic roster:

Forwards

Daryl Watts (TOR) – Marie-Philip Poulin (MTL) – Laura Stacey (MTL)
Jenn Gardiner (VAN) – Sarah Nurse (VAN) – Sarah Fillier (NY)
Emma Maltais (TOR) – Blayre Turnbull (TOR) – Natalie Spooner (TOR)
Julia Gosling (SEA) – Kristin O’Neill (NY) – Brianne Jenner (OTT)
Hannah Miller (VAN) – Caitlin Kraemer (2028)

Also considered: Danielle Serdachny (SEA), Emily Clark (OTT)

Ryan was doing a lot of tinkering during the Rivalry Series to try to ignite some offense. It…didn’t do much, especially when you consider the fact that two of the team’s seven goals came from Sophie Jaques. Yet, the top line of Poulin, Stacey and Watts seems like it has the tools to be dynamite in a quick tournament. Poulin and Stacey are inseparable, and Watts’ speed and creativity will only create more chances for the power couple.

We didn’t get a chance to see Nurse in the exhibition series, but seeing her on a line with the exquisite talent that is Sarah Fillier and the finish that Gardiner possesses, Canada has a strong second line that can carry the offense if called upon.

I’d be really excited to see the Sceptres line of Maltais, Spooner and Turnbull all together. Maltais can take the role as the workhorse of the line, with Spooner’s scoring prowess being key for a team that wants to have scoring depth. Turnbull provides a solid two-way game that’s going to be useful on a smaller sheet of ice.

The fourth line and extras could be any sort of combination. O’Neill has proven to be one of the best depth centers in hockey, both internationally and in the PWHL. It’s hard to remove Julia Gosling from the lineup with her size, and Jenner earns her way onto the roster thanks to a strong performance in the Rivlary Series.

Barring any stumble in PWHL play, I believe Miller manages to crack the lineup, as does Minnesota Duluth star Caitlin Kraemer, who can give some energy to the bottom half of the forward group.

Defense

Claire Thompson (VAN) – Sophie Jaques (VAN)
Ella Shelton (TOR) – Renata Fast (TOR)
Jocelyne Larocque (OTT) – Chloe Primerano (2028)
Nicole Gosling (MTL) – Erin Ambrose (MTL)

Also considered: Kati Tabin (MTL), Micah Zandee-Hart (NY)

The more I saw of her against the U.S., the more I realized Jaques might be Canada’s No. 1 defender. Sure, Fast is still one of the best in the game, but being paired with Thompson allows Jaques to be the effective two-way rearguard that the team needs. Not to mention the fact she’d be playing with Thompson, who had a coming-out party in Beijing.

I think, if you’re Ryan, you have to pair up your two Toronto blueliners to get some camaraderie. Fast and Shelton both provide offense and defensive stability, and they could complement each other based on their styles.

I’m torn about Larocque. On one hand, she brings an immense amount of experience, but how she’s played over the past couple of years shows that age is catching up to her. I think she’s good enough to make the roster, but I wouldn’t put her in an elevated role. That said, with the young and exciting Chloe Primerano, Larocque can be relied upon as a stay-at-home defender.

I don’t doubt that Ambrose is better than a seventh defender, but given the number of young and exciting players already on the right side, she might have to take a backseat in Milan. Nicole Gosling might not have seen a lot of playing time in the Rivalry Series, but having spent a lot of time with Ambrose with the Montreal Victoire this season, it’d make sense that her D partner, if she plays, would be the veteran.

Goaltenders

Ann-Renée Desbiens (MTL)
Emerance Maschmeyer (VAN)
Kayle Osborne (NY)

I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel with this one. There still aren’t two better Canadian goaltenders than Desbiens and Maschmeyer. Sure, Desbiens struggled in her two Rivalry Series games, but if she can stay healthy and build up some confidence heading into the Olympics, she can prove that she’s still an all-world goaltender.

If she were to falter, Maschmeyer will be there. After an injury kept her out of the Women’s Worlds last spring, she’ll be hungry to contribute to the cause in Milan.

As for the third-stringer spot, I was very high on Ève Gascon getting the nod. However, the more I thought about it, with February being a crucial time in the NCAA season, would Duluth be open to letting its No. 1 goaltender sit in the stands for three weeks, while the Bulldogs are fighting for seeding in the WCHA?

That opens the door for Kayle Osborne, who has looked good early on for the Sirens this season. While her lone appearance in the Rivalry Series last month didn’t go well, she has the international experience that Canada might need if disaster strikes.

Also considered: Ève Gascon (2027), Kristen Campbell (VAN)

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