Star players, strong defence will be difference makers in Canada, U.S. gold medal game: PWHL podcast hosts

We chat with the hosts of the "Jocks in Jills" podcast about today's gold medal game for the Canadian women's hockey team.

The on-ice rivalry between Canada and the U.S. will add a new chapter Thursday when the nations face off in the women’s hockey gold medal game at Milano Cortina 2026.

“This U.S. team is probably one of the best teams I think put together ever in the history of women’s hockey,” says Tessa Bonhomme, one of the hosts of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) podcast, Jocks in Jills.

“They’re going to be a handful for the Canadians.”

Bonhomme has firsthand experience playing against the U.S. She helped Team Canada defeat the Americans in the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“They (Canada) are just going to have play a very tight, defensive game,” says Bonhomme, adding Canada’s power play has been strong so the team should be playing hard along the boards to draw penalties.

“For the rest of the way it’s hold on for dear life,” she says.

Canada will need a big game from their goalie, Ann-Renée Desbiens, who’s one of the best in the world, says Bonhomme.

With 38 players representing the PWHL in the gold medal game, no matter who wins, the game is great for the growth of women’s hockey, says Bonhomme’s co-host, Julia Tocheri.

“The PWHL has done so much,” she says.

Tocheri points to Canada’s close semi-final game against the Swiss team as an example of the high level of competition in women’s hockey.

“The closest semi-final game Canada’s ever played. While a lot of Canadians are upset about that, I think it speaks to how much the rest of the world is catching up.”

Tocheri says there was some fear of North American players before the PWHL but now the Europeans play alongside them in the new league.

“They train with them every day,” she says. “They can keep up with them and we’re seeing that on the ice. It feels like a direct result of the PWHL.”

In addition to goaltending, the podcast hosts say both teams will be looking for contributions from the star players who’ve carried them this far, including Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin who can be a difference maker.

“We call her ‘Captain Clutch’ for a reason,” says Bonhomme.

“The thing with this U.S. team though is it’s going to take a complete team effort in order to come away with a very close win.”

Bonhomme says Canada has not played its best game yet, so they could surprise the Americans.