Team Canada Unveils 2026 Olympic Women’s Hockey Roster
The Canadian women’s national hockey team just revealed its roster for the 2026 Olympics. It’s an experience-heavy lineup, mixing seasoned veterans with a few promising newcomers.
With 20 players returning from the 2025 World Championships, the team’s aiming to reclaim Olympic gold in Milan. Let’s take a look at the key players, notable absences, and the strategies shaping Team Canada’s lineup for the Winter Games.
Canada’s Experienced Core
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This year’s roster features 16 players who’ve already played at the Olympics. That makes it one of the most seasoned squads in international women’s hockey.
Marie-Philip Poulin leads the way, heading into her fifth Olympic Games. She’s joined by Brianne Jenner and Daryl Watts, forming a seriously dangerous trio of forwards.
All three rank among the top five goal scorers in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) this season. Their offensive skills are tough to ignore.
Key Forwards
Jennifer Gardiner and Daryl Watts are set for their first Olympic appearances. Gardiner finished second in scoring at the 2025 World Championships.
Watts sits second all-time in PWHL scoring, just behind Poulin herself. Sarah Nurse returns too, after setting an Olympic scoring record in 2022.
Nurse missed most of the 2025-26 season with an injury. Still, she’s expected to make a big impact in Milan.
Defensive Strength
Canada’s defensive group includes six returning players. That lineup features all three finalists for the 2025 PWHL Defender of the Year award: Renata Fast, Sophie Jaques, and Claire Thompson.
Fast stands out as one of the best all-around defenders in the world. Kati Tabin joins them, having only recently made her senior national team debut—a pretty rapid rise in the PWHL.
Veteran Presence
Jocelyne Larocque, now 37, remains a steady presence on the blue line. Maybe she’s lost a step, but her experience and leadership matter a ton.
She’s played over 200 games with the senior national team. That kind of longevity makes her vital for Canada’s defensive plans.
The only defender with a better Net Rating than Larocque who didn’t make the roster is Minnesota rookie Kendall Cooper. Cooper hasn’t played a game yet with the senior national team.
Goaltending Trio
Ann-Renée Desbiens returns as Canada’s top goalie. She’s posted a .947 save percentage in the PWHL this season and holds a 4-0 record at the Olympics.
Emerance Maschmeyer and Kayle Osborne back her up. Maschmeyer missed the 2025 World Championships with an injury but brings plenty of experience.
Osborne, meanwhile, has started every game for the New York Sirens this season. She rounds out the goaltending group.
Notable Absences
Some players who helped Canada win silver at the 2025 World Championships didn’t make the Olympic roster. Danielle Serdachny is probably the most surprising cut—she scored the golden goal at the 2024 World Championships.
Serdachny’s struggled in the PWHL, though, with just three goals and 10 points in 39 games over two seasons. Chloe Primerano and Ève Gascon also missed the cut.
Primerano, a young defender with promise, hasn’t dominated at the senior level yet. Gascon, the WCHA goalie of the year, lost out to Osborne for a spot.
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Olympic Debuts
Seven players will make their Olympic debuts in Milan. Forwards Kristin O’Neill and Julia Gosling are among them.
Gosling’s four goals and eight points in nine games this season probably secured her roster spot. On defense, Kati Tabin and Sophie Jaques are also set for their first Olympics.
Kayle Osborne will make her Olympic debut in goal. She’ll provide depth and reliability behind Desbiens and Maschmeyer.
Strategic Choices
Canada’s choice to rely on experienced players has sparked debate. Some critics say the team should’ve added more young talent, like Team USA did.
But Canada’s veterans have shown they can handle pressure. Players like Poulin, Jenner, and Larocque bring leadership you just can’t teach.
Canada also has several elite players in their prime, including Sarah Fillier, Renata Fast, and Ann-Renée Desbiens. That mix of experience and peak performance could be the difference-maker.
Road to Gold
Canada enters the 2026 Olympics ranked No. 2 by the IIHF. The team’s dealing with a six-game losing streak against Team USA, after being swept at the 2025 Rivalry Series and World Championships.
Still, the focus is on winning gold. Canada opens the preliminary round against Finland and wraps up with a much-anticipated game against the United States on February 10.
The gold medal game is set for February 19. Let’s see if this blend of experience and new energy can help Canada bring home the top prize.
Challenges Ahead
Team USA brings a serious threat, mixing seasoned veterans with young, energetic talent. But let’s be honest—Canada has Poulin, and she’s a game-changer.
Poulin’s scored in every single one of the four Olympic gold medal games she’s played. The Americans have only managed to beat her once in that setting, so they know exactly what she can do.
Canada’s lineup balances reliable veterans with elite players right in their prime. It’s a tough combo for any opponent to handle.
For more details and some deeper analysis, check out the full article on the New York Times.