At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Canada’s women’s hockey team once again demonstrated its championship pedigree, edging Switzerland 2–1 in a tightly contested semifinal to secure a spot in the gold medal game against the United States.
Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin delivered a historic performance, scoring both goals in the victory and cementing her place in Olympic history. With her first tally of the game, Poulin became the all-time leading goal scorer in women’s Olympic hockey, surpassing the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser. The milestone came just days after Poulin tied Wickenheiser’s record with her 18th career Olympic goal.
Poulin wasted little time adding to her legacy. Just seven minutes after setting the new record, she dove toward the net and flipped in her second goal of the game, giving Canada a crucial cushion in the semifinal. The two-goal performance pushed her career Olympic total to 20 goals and once again highlighted her reputation as one of the sport’s most clutch performers.
Switzerland fought hard to stay within reach throughout the game. Rahel Enzler scored the lone goal for the Swiss squad, keeping the pressure on Canada deep into the third period. Despite the late push, Canada’s defense and goaltending held firm to preserve the one-goal advantage and secure the win.
The victory sends Canada back to familiar territory — the Olympic gold medal game — where it will renew one of the fiercest rivalries in international hockey against the United States. The two programs have defined women’s Olympic hockey for decades, frequently meeting in the tournament’s most important matchup.
Canada now has the opportunity to add another chapter to its storied Olympic history, led by a captain who continues to redefine greatness on the sport’s biggest stage. Poulin’s leadership, scoring touch, and experience as a five-time Olympian have once again propelled Canada into position to compete for gold.
The gold medal showdown between Canada and the United States is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 19, at 3:10 p.m. ET, setting the stage for another memorable battle between the sport’s two dominant nations.
