Defending champion Canada smothers Switzerland in 2026 Olympic women's hockey debut

Sarah Fillier and Darryl Watt each had a goal and an assist for Canada in a 4-0 win over Switzerland to open the 2026 Olympic women's hockey tournament Saturday.

Fillier, Natalie Spooner and Julia Gosling scored power-play goals and Watts struck even strength for the defending champions. Defender Claire Thompson had a pair of assists.

Saskia Maurer was stalwart in the Swiss net in turning away 50 shots.

Switzerland was scheduled to be Canada's second opponent of the Milan Cortina Games, but Thursday's opener between Canada and Finland was rescheduled to Feb. 12 because of multiple cases of the norovirus among the Finns.

A Swiss player also had the virus, which put the hockey team in isolation Friday and out of the opening ceremonies after a 4-3 shootout win over Czechia earlier that day.

Canada's opening win of Olympics comes with 4-0 shutout of Switzerland

But Switzerland iced a full complement of 20 skaters and two goalies Saturday at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, which is a low-ceiling temporary rink constructed inside an exhibition centre, and seats between 5,700 and 6,000 people.

Canada's top goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens didn't dress Thursday. Canada gave Emerance Maschmeyer the start and Olympic rookie Kayle Osborne was the backup.

Maschmeyer repelled six shots for her shutout, including a stop on Singja Leemann on a partial breakaway in the second period.

Canada faces Czechia on Monday, the United States on Tuesday and Finland on Thursday.

Canada outshot the Swiss 17-2 and 30-3 at period breaks. The Canadians cashed in on three of their five power-play chances, while the Swiss went 0 for 1.

Spooner scored Canada's first goal of the tournament when she got enough of her stick shaft on a rebound following a