Injured Canadian captain Poulin scratched from Finland game, but gets back on the ice

Canada’s Marie-Philip Poulin (29) waits to take a faceoff during the first period of a preliminary round women's hockey game at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, in Milan, on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

MILAN — Canadian women’s hockey team captain Marie-Philip Poulin missed a second straight game at the Milan Cortina Olympics with a lower-body injury, but took a step toward rejoining her team.

Poulin didn’t participate in her team’s 5-0 win over Finland on Thursday in Canada’s preliminary-round finale, but she skated in the morning before the game at Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.

“All I’ve heard was she was positive and felt good and medical was pleased with it,” Canada’s head coach Troy Ryan said. “I didn’t go. That’s a situation you don’t need coaches. It’s more medical and for her to get a feel for things.”

Poulin hasn’t played since she was injured midway through the first period of Monday’s 5-1 win over Czechia. The 33-year-old forward from Beauceville, Que., was checked hard into the boards by Kristyna Kaltounkova.

Poulin didn’t play in Tuesday’s 5-0 loss to the U.S.

Canada (3-0-0-1) finished second in Group A behind the unbeaten Americans and will meet Germany in Saturday’s quarterfinal.

“No matter what, whether it’s a gold medal or a Germany quarterfinal, we’ll do, in collaboration with medical, our management and Pou — she’s a big part of that conversation. We just don’t decide that. We have to collaborate with her — we’ll do what’s best for her,” Ryan said.

The semifinals are Monday and the medal games are on Feb. 19.

Poulin tried to continue after she was hit by Kaltounkova, but the captain left the offensive zone mid-shift on a subsequent power play and headed for the dressing room.

She later returned to the bench to support her teammates and skated a few test circles after the first-period buzzer, but didn’t return to the game.

The five-time Olympian is the active leader in goals in Olympic women’s hockey with 17, which is one off the record held by her former teammate Hayley Wickenheiser.

Poulin has scored seven goals across four Olympic finals, making her the only player, male or female, to do so.

Her teammate Daryl Watts felt encouraged that her captain was making progress.

“It’s great that she was on the ice,” Watts said. “We can’t wait for her to get back.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2026.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press