Prime Minister Mark Carney meets with national women’s hockey team members

Prime Minister Mark Carney holds an Olympic jersey he was presented with, by Women's National team hockey players Emily Clark, left, Brianne Jenner and Jocelyne Larocque, right, in his office on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Tuesday, Jan 27, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Hockey Canada officials and members of the national women’s hockey team at his West Block office on Tuesday evening ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Forwards Emily Clark and Brianne Jenner and defender Jocelyne Larocque -- all members of the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge -- met with Carney.

The prime minister seemed giddy as he said it was incredible to be there with the best athletes in Canada.

“This is doubly exciting for me,” said Carney, who shouted out the Charge and encouraged the media to applaud, saying “don’t be neutral.”

Carney said the athletes had “all of Canada” behind them as they head to Milan for the Winter Games. He noted the amount of experience the hockey players have “despite how young they look.”

Carney also joked about the hockey rink issues in Milan, saying it would be ready “just in time.”

“They won’t know what hit them,” Carney told the athletes.

On behalf of all Canadians, Carney said that he feels proud and fortunate that the athletes are representing the country.

The prime minister also said Hockey Canada and the athletes have led the transformation of the women’s game in Canada and around the world. He thanked them and wished them luck.

Carney was then presented with a red hockey jersey, with a black maple leaf in the front and his last name on the back, with the number 26.

Group photos were taken with the jersey, and Secretary of State for Sport and Olympic champion paddler Adam van Koeverden joined in.

No members from the men’s national team were present.

Jeremy Knight, a spokesperson for Hockey Canada, said in an email that the organization was anticipating having an equal number of players from the men’s team at the meeting as well but their schedules changed last minute due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Canada’s women open their Olympic title defence against Finland on Feb. 5.

The men begin play on Feb. 12 against Switzerland. It’s the first time since the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, that NHL players will be able to compete at the Olympics

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2026.

Catherine Morrison, The Canadian Press