Poulin Sets Olympic Record as Canada and U.S. Set Collision Course for Women’s Hockey Gold

MILAN, Italy — Marie-Philip Poulin continues to cement her legacy as one of the greatest players in women’s hockey history, breaking the Olympic career goal record as Canada prepares for a highly anticipated gold medal showdown with the United States at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games.

Canada Advances After Hard-Fought Semifinal

Canada secured its place in the gold medal game with a 2-1 victory over Switzerland in the semifinal on Monday, February 16, 2026. Poulin scored twice in the game, surpassing former teammate and Hockey Hall of Famer Hayley Wickenheiser’s previous record of 18 Olympic goals. Ann-Renee Desbiens stopped seven shots for Canada. Rahel Enzler scored for Switzerland, even as Andrea Braendli made 44 saves.

U.S. Dominates Sweden in Semifinal

The United States cruised to a 5-0 win over Sweden in their semifinal matchup, continuing their dominant run through the tournament. Aerin Frankel recorded her third shutout of the tournament, stopping 21 shots. Abbey Murphy, Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Hayley Scamurra scored within a 2:47 span in the second period, while Cayla Barnes and Taylor Heise also found the back of the net.

Poulin’s Remarkable Olympic Journey

Poulin’s journey to the record books has been marked by clutch performances throughout her five Olympic appearances. She previously injected a spark into the Canadian team after returning from a right knee injury, scoring in a 5-1 quarterfinal win over Germany on February 14, 2026. She has earned the nickname “Captain Clutch” for scoring three Olympic gold medal-clinching goals.

U.S. Remains Undefeated

The U.S. Team has been nearly flawless throughout the tournament, going 6-0 and outscoring their opponents 31-1. They have yet to trail or be tied in a game, and their shutout streak reached 331 minutes, 23 seconds.

Canada’s Road to the Final

Canada’s path to the gold medal game has been more challenging. They suffered a 5-0 loss to the U.S. In the preliminary round, a game Poulin missed due to injury. Despite this setback, the defending Olympic champions remain confident, embracing an underdog mentality.

Gold Medal Rematch

The gold medal game on Thursday will be a rematch between Canada and the United States, promising a thrilling conclusion to the women’s hockey tournament. It could also be the final Olympic meeting between Poulin and U.S. Captain Hilary Knight, who has announced her retirement after these Games. Sweden and Switzerland will compete for the bronze medal.