Everything you need to know before Canada announces its women's Olympic hockey team

Hockey Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee will name the Olympic women’s hockey team on Friday afternoon, less than a month before the Canadians open the tournament against Finland on Feb. 5.

A dominant Canadian team took home gold in Beijing in 2022, breaking records along the way.

But the team will go into this year’s Winter Games in Italy as the underdog against a young, skilled American squad.

The Americans swept the Canadians at the recent four-game Rivalry Series, outscoring Canada 24-7 and looking more connected along the way. The U.S. roster was named on New Year’s Eve and is stacked with talent, from captain Hilary Knight and PWHL leading scorer Kendall Coyne Schofield, all the way to PWHL draft prospects such as Caroline Harvey, Abbey Murphy and Laila Edwards.

Canadian assistant captain Blayre Turnbull didn’t mince words about her team’s performance.

“The first three games of the Rivalry Series were really bad for our team,” Turnbull said last month. “I think the last game we started playing the right way, but I think we all understand there’s a lot of work left to do, which is good. I don’t think anyone on our team left that Rivalry Series feeling happy about where we’re at.”

The Olympics are a fresh slate and a grander stage. Turnbull said she still feels confident the Canadians can repeat as gold medallists.

Projecting Team Canada's women's hockey roster for Milano Cortina 2026

Head coach Troy Ryan didn't seem concerned, either.

“The message to the national team when we left [after the Rivalry Series] was understand the feelings you’re having right now and why they possibly happened, and make sure you’re building your habits and your details and your concepts with your PWHL team or your NCAA team so