Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin: Losses to USA provided ‘hard look in the mirror’ heading into Olympics
Whenever Canada’s women’s team competes on the international stage, they’re always favored to win.
Just look at the program’s resume – five Olympic gold medals, 13 IIHF Women’s World Championships, eight Hockey Hall of Famers (with a few more on the horizon) – it isn’t often that the nation isn’t at the top of the podium.
However, there’s growing concern about the team’s chances heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite being the defending Olympic champions, the Canadians were humbled in the year of 2025. On top of losing to the United States in overtime in the Women’s Worlds final last spring, Canada was beaten and battered by their southern rivals in the Rivalry Series, as the U.S. swept the four-game series, outscoring Canada 24-7.
Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin admitted that the recent results against the U.S are still in the team’s memory bank.
“We’re aware of the Rivalry Series, how it went, we all know that,” Poulin said in an interview with Daily Faceoff. “It is disappointing. That’s not how you want to leave those games before the Olympics, but I think it’s a hard look in the mirror as well. What can we do to be better? How can we do better as an individual? As a group? I think it was just eye-opening in how we can get better as a group, and where we can manage to sharpen a couple things.”
The Americans will head into the Winter Games riding a six-game win streak against Canada, a feat only accomplished one other time in the rivalry’s history. That said, Poulin, last year’s IIHF Women’s Player of the Year, says the team’s confidence remains high heading into Milan.
“It’s still high. I think we have confidence in this group. Honestly, it’s in that dressing room, it’s who’s in that dressing room. Who believes. That’s all that matters, and I think that’s something we’re all aware of that. … At the end of the day, it’s who believes, and we do believe in our group, and we’ll be ready to go when it comes.”
Many see the United States’ youth and speed as advantages against the older, arguably more experienced Canadians. Poulin notes that if she and her teammates stay focused and play their game, they can reverse the recent trend.
“I think we just gotta go back to the little details. I think we kind of got away a little bit during the [Rivalry Series]. Keep it simple, play behind them, playing strong, playing physical, that’s gonna be key for us. We know we’re a team that’s a little bit older, they’re younger, they’re quite talented, and so are we. I think it’s a battle every time, and it’s gonna be a battle from Game 1. That gritty, hard-fight battle, that’s something we have to get back to.”
There might be some history on the Canadians’ side. The last time the United States won this many games in a row heading into the Olympics was in the lead-up to the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, in which Canada ended the Americans’ eight-game win streak by capturing its first Olympic gold medal.
This year’s Olympics will certainly have a different feel, as the presence of the PWHL has given players the chance to compete at the highest level nightly. It’s contrary to previous years, where national teams had centralized camps to pick their rosters. Poulin believes it will only further enhance the play on the big stage.
“Practicing with the best, against the best, playing in that league.” The reigning PWHL MVP explained. “I think it’s a different preparation. … I think everybody will be ready to play at the highest level come February. That’s something that’s what this league created. Well, not only in the PWHL, but also in Europe, where the girls are playing as well, so that’s gonna be awesome, and very looking forward to that.”
With so many eyes on the women’s game, the Beauceville, Que. native understands the impact this tournament could have on eyes not accustomed to seeing hockey on a regular basis.
“I think it’s just the start of something even bigger, to see what the PWHL has created… It’s funny, because kind of back to how it was, people will be watching the Olympics, and that 3 years in between, they have no idea where we played. Now, they actually know where we’re at. They know how we’re playing, they know everything. That’s something that’s pretty amazing to see and to be part of.”
Poulin recognizes that the goal for gold is still the same, but it could mean a little more this time around.
“We made sure that it’s our priority when we started the season, that this was a big year for women’s hockey, and for us as a Canadian team, we want to make sure we have a goal in mind, and we’re all aware of that.”
This year’s Winter Games will mark the 34-year-old’s fifth trip to the Olympics, as she and American captain Hilary Knight will be achieving the milestone. She notes it’s amazing that she’s been able to represent the country for this long.
“It can be pretty surreal, honestly. I can’t believe I have the opportunity to do that. … I’m still a kid, knowing that I might have the chance to represent the country at the highest level. My first one, in Vancouver, 18 years old. You’re just there enjoying the moment. Four cycles later, I’m still feeling the same, enjoying the moment, having so much pride, wearing that jersey.”
Canada will kick off its Group A schedule on Thursday, Feb. 5, when they take on Finland. The Canadians will also take on Czechia and Switzerland before facing the U.S. on Feb. 10. The quarterfinals begin on Feb. 13, with the gold medal being handed out on Feb. 19.