Gold medal favorite US women
dominate a Canada team missing its captain in 5-0 win
[February 11, 2026]
By JOHN WAWROW
MILAN (AP) — The U.S. women’s hockey team so thoroughly overwhelmed
rival Canada that coach John Wroblewski issued a reminder that the
5-0 victory still left the Americans a long way from Olympic gold.
“What’s the hardest part of climbing the mountain?” the fourth-year
coach asked.
“Getting home,” he said, answering his own question. “If you ever
feel good about climbing Mount Everest, it’s the way down. Oh, you
think you’ve done something, that’s when the mountain eats you up.”
This was just a preliminary-round meeting between the sport's two
global powers. The gold-medal game isn’t until Feb. 19.
The Americans are three wins away from a third gold medal after
their lopsided victory over a Canadian team missing its captain, and
clinched first place in Group A entering the quarterfinals. It was a
performance that continued confirming why the U.S. entered the
tournament as favorites.
“I don’t think it’s any easier than expected,” forward Tessa Janecke
said of Canada’s most lopsided loss in Olympic play, and first time
the team has ever been blanked.
“I think we go in with the same mindset, and I think it was just a
good team win overall for us,” she added. “So I think we just went
in and did it like any other game. It doesn’t matter who we’re
playing.”
Team USA swept all four preliminary-round games by a combined score
of 20-1, and brought back memories of how a Canadian team in its
prime rolled to winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Games.
The tables have since turned, and it was evident on the scoresheet
from a roster featuring seven players still in college.
The University of Wisconsin’s Caroline Harvey had a goal and two
assists, with Badger teammates Laila Edwards and Kristen Simms also
scoring. The goal was Edwards’ first in her Olympic debut in being
the first Black woman to represent the U.S.
University of Minnesota captain Abbey Murphy set up three goals.
Canada, meantime, opened tentatively, and then ran into penalty
problems minus its longtime leader, Marie-Philip Poulin, who
sustained a lower-body injury in a 5-1 win over Czechia a day
earlier.
Not having their so-called “Captain Clutch” in the lineup was still
no excuse for coach Troy Ryan.
“We just didn’t play very well at all. Irresponsible with the puck,
like just poor puck management,” Ryan said. “And it’s not that
there’s not confidence, but we played like we didn’t have confidence
with the puck.”
Ryan said Poulin will be re-assessed and would likely miss Canada’s
preliminary-round finale against Finland on Thursday. He was
otherwise optimistic Poulin would be back in the lineup potentially
as soon as Saturday for the Canadians' quarterfinal game.
The U.S. will open the quarterfinals against host nation Italy,
which went 2-2 in clinching the third and final Group B playoff
spot.
Aerin Frankel stopped 20 shots for her third win and second shutout
in her first Olympic tournament. And even 36-year-old captain Hilary
Knight added an assist — the 32nd Olympic point of her career to tie
Jenny Potter for most by a U.S. women’s hockey player.
“Our team’s making my life pretty easy,” Frankel said. “It’s been so
much fun to play behind them.”
And impressive to watch.
“It’s incredible. So much speed, so much skill,” Frankel said. “It’s
hopefully really, really hard to play against us and frustrating as
well.”
Whatever “O, Canada” buzz there was amid a large Maple Leaf
flag-waving capacity crowd quickly dampened on a drizzly day outside
the 11,600-seat Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. And the soundtrack
instead became the sound of the U.S. goal song, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s
“Free Bird.”
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United States players celebrate a goal by Kirsten Simms (9) during
second period against Canaday in a preliminary round match of
women's ice hockey between USA and Canada at the 2026 Winter
Olympics in Milan, Italy, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (Nathan Denette/The
Canadian Press via AP)
Harvey opened the scoring 3:45 in by driving in
from the left point and snapping a shot beating Ann-Renee Desbiens.
The Americans’ speed and quick-strike ability was
evident on their next goal wiht 2:42 left in the first period, when
Murphy chased down Harvey’s pass in the right corner. Murphy
immediately spun and sent a no-look pass Bilka converted by driving
to the net.
Simms made it 3-0 by jamming the puck over the line 72 seconds into
the second period and Murphy set up Bilka for another one-timer some
six minutes later.
Desbiens allowed five goals on 27 shots and was pulled after Edwards
scored with 8:07 left. She was replaced by Emerance Maschmeyer, who
finished with five saves.
Canada’s worst fears were realized in opening the game minus Poulin,
after concerns were already raised after the U.S. dominated in
sweeping a four-game exhibition pre-Olympic Rivalry Series. The
Americans outscored Canada by a combined margin of 24-7.
The U.S. has now defeated Canada in seven straight meetings, dating
to the preliminary round and gold-medal game of the world
championships in April.
“We had a lot of breakdowns in our game. We would make one mistake
that led to another mistake, and sometimes those things kind of
compound,” Canadian assistant captain Blayre Turnbull said. “I think
there’s a lot of things that we can learn and move forward and
hopefully make some positive changes.”
Sweden sweeps
Ebba Svensson Traff stopped 20 shots to post her first Olympic
shutout and Group B champion Sweden completed its four-game
preliminary round sweep with a 4-0 win over Japan. Sweden outscored
its opponents by a combined 18-2, and will play Group A’s third seed
in the quarterfinals.
Sweden forward Hilda Svensson did not return after falling awkwardly
into the boards five minutes into the game. The team said she
sustained a lower-body injury. They described the injury as not
serious and said a doctor decided to keep her from returning to play
for precautionary reasons.
Japan's ninth-place finish is the lowest in the nation's five
Olympic appearances, and after finishing sixth at the 2022 Beijing
Games.
Finland finally scores
Finland beat Switzerland 3-1, scoring for the first time this
tournament after being shut out in each of its first two games
following a norovirus outbreak that decimated the roster.
Germany beats Italy 2-1
Laura Kluge’s breakaway goal with 1:29 left in regulation secured
Germany’s 2-1 win over Italy and second place in the Group B
standings. Emily Nix also scored for Germany.
Justine Reyes scored for Italy, which advanced for the first time in
two Olympic appearances — both as the host team.
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