Team Canada stars to watch in the women's semi-finals

Canada face Switzerland in the women's ice hockey semi-finals on Monday (14 February) as they bid to regain their Olympic crown at Beijing 2022.

The Canadians won four consecutive Olympic titles from Salt Lake 2002 to Sochi 2014 before being beaten in a shootout by Team USA at PyeongChang 2018.

Team Canada have been relentless so far in China, scoring 33 and conceding just five in their four round-robin victories.

They were equally ruthless in the quarter-finals as they beat Sweden 11-0 to set up a semi-final meeting with the Swiss who they beat 12-1 in their opening game.

The winners will face either USA or Finland in the final on Thursday.

Here are some of the stars to watch for Team Canada.

Sarah Nurse is making her second Games appearance, four years after taking silver in PyeongChang.

The forward was also on the Canada team that won their first World Championship since 2012 last year in Calgary when they defeated the USA in overtime.

The 27-year-old has found the net four times so far in Beijing including a hat-trick against Finland.

Nurse, who plays for Toronto-based Team Sonnet in the PWHPA, started skating at age three and playing hockey at five.

She was inspired after watching the Canadian women's team win gold at Salt Lake City 2002, and is a vocal advocate for gender and racial equality.

Nurse said, "I know that there have been statements made by different people saying, ‘Well, it’s not just a hockey thing, there are gender inequalities and disparities everywhere.’ And so to that I say, well, don’t we see a problem? Why can’t the hockey world be a driving force? Why can’t it be a leader in change? Why can’t it be a champion of change?

"As we move forward as a women’s hockey community, the breadcrumbs that