Canada is playing only its second game of the tournament and is preparing for a tight schedule after the match against Finland was postponed. This test against the ambitious Czechs promises to be good preparation on the eve of facing the United States.
Poulin leaves the match due to injury
Canada starts with confidence, and gets the first chances on Julie Pejšová. But indiscipline catches up with him. Laura Stacey was punished first, allowing the Czech power play to hole Ann-Renée Desbiens with a volley from Kristýna Kaltounková. Worse, Renata Fast commits an excessive charge and leaves her side at 3 against 5. Marie-Philip Poulin clears the first time, then the Czechs find the post. Back at five, the Canadians accelerate and cross the ice. Renata Fast, coming out of the penalty box, launches the maneuvers of a backhand throw poorly controlled by the goalkeeper. Kristin O’Neill is the fastest on the rebound for her first Olympic goal (1-0).
The match is fast and physical. After nine minutes, Kaltounková delivered a severe check to Marie-Philip Poulin, who was struggling to get on the bench. The Canadians react harshly and the referees have to separate the players. The power play ensues and Brianne Jenner nears the goal on a pivot. No goal despite strong offensive pressure.
The second goal arrives 6’48 before the break. An action in the offensive zone by Daryl Watts led to the goal and Sarah Fillier found the rebound high up for her 10th goal in 9 Olympic matches (2-0). The Czechs sink shortly after the engagement: Laura Stacey takes off like a rocket in one-on-one, and sends a laser shot which chases Julie Pejšová (3-0). Michaela Hesová comes into play…
And the goalkeeper already has a lot to do with a cross shot from Fast who is clearly looking to give a rebound. This is cleared and the Czechs try to rest their game, harassed by the forecheck of Troy Ryan’s players.
Barbora Juříčková penalized for a charge, the maple leaf players camped in the opposing zone, with lines reshuffled by the absence of Poulin. The Czechs continue to press physically and Kaltounková charges Fillier, which gives a 5-on-3. This is the moment when the public spots Poulin back on the bench, rather smiling: she does not, however, return to the ice.
The double advantage is too much: Erin Ambrose is served at the head of the circle and throws at goal through traffic. The puck bounces towards Julia Gosling, who does not miss the opportunity (4-0).
A match folded from the start
The score is heavy at the break, and does not improve upon resumption. 17 seconds later, a triangle play benefits Julia Gosling behind (5-0). As it turns out, the absence of Marie-Philip Poulin for this replay does not change much in the debate, while remaining the most important information of the evening…
There is not much to hope for from the match, so the Czechs break free. Kaltounková charges and finds Adéla Šapovalivová in the slot: Desbiens saves.
Midway through the match, a foul from Claire Thompson put the Czechs in superiority. There is fire in the slot driven by an untenable Kaltounková. Desbiens, lying on the ice, sees the puck bounce, and this return is taken towards the empty goal. A forest of legs later, the disc escapes the goal line and is finally cleared in great confusion.
Considering the score, the atmosphere has settled down and the rhythm a little, too. Once her penalty for illegal charge is over, Kateřina Mrázová launches a 2-on-1 out of prison. But, in the duel in the slot, Sára Čajanová violently hit the railing. Stunned, the defender must be helped to return to the locker room. The match remains physical, even if the interest in the spectacle has reduced. The only scoring chances are Canadian and Hesová works to limit the damage.
Current affairs
We’re really bored in this last third without any challenge. The Canadians have clearly given up, and the Czechs aren’t really forcing themselves either. This match will not change anything in the preliminary ranking for the quarter-finals and two players have already left the match due to injury…
You have to wait seven minutes to see Tereza Vanišová served on the right wing. Desbiens routinely catches the puck with his glove, and a penalty is called against Claire Thompson for a collision. This time the power play converts. Kaltounková works hard in the slot, and Natalie Mlýnková takes the rebound (5-1). Just afterward, Erin Ambrose returns to the locker room, apparently cut on the leg by a skate…
Nurse punished for restraining and Tereza Pištěková for brutality, the penalty counter climbs, but we remain at 5 against 5. Juříčková also returns to the locker room, which leaves two injured everywhere… followed by Klára Hymlarová, victim of a free butt hit from Fillier.
The match ended 5-1, without any surprises. But the health of Marie-Philip Poulin, and the other affected players, remains a matter of concern.
Canada – Czechia 5-1 (4-0, 1-0, 0-1)
Monday February 9, 2026 at 9:10 p.m. in Milano Rho. 3,901 spectators.
Referees: Elizabeth Mantha (CAN) and Amanda Tassoni (USA) assisted by Sarah Buckner (USA) and Kirsten Welsh (CAN).
Penalties: Canada 10′ (4′, 2′, 4′); Czechia 10′ (6′, 2′, 2′).
Shots: Canada 34 (17, 13, 4); Czechia 19 (5, 5, 9).
Score Summary
1-0 at 05’44”: O’Neill assisted by Fast
2-0 at 13’12”: Fillier assisted by Watts and Nurse
3-0 at 13’51”: Stacey assisted by Maltais and Shelton
4-0 at 18’57”: Gosling assisted by Jenner and Ambrose (digital double sup.)
5-0 at 20’17”: Gosling assisted by Jenner and Thompson (numeral sup.)
5-1 à 48’38” : Mlýnková assistée de Vanišová et Kaltounkova (sup. num.)
Canada
Attackers:
Emma Maltais (+1) – Marie-Philip Poulin (C, +1) – Laura Stacey (+1, 2′)
Daryl Watts (+1) – Sarah Nurse (+1, 2′) – Sarah Fillier (+1)
Emily Clark (+1) – Brianne Jenner (A) – Blayre Turnbull
Jennifer Gardiner – Kristin O’Neill (+1) – Julia Gosling
Natalie Spooner (+1)
Defenders:
Jocelyne Larocque – Renata Fast (A, +1, 2′)
Ella Shelton (+2) – Erin Ambrose (+1)
Claire Thompson (4′, +1) – Sophie Jaques (+1)
Tabin card
Guardian:
Ann-Renée Desbiens
Substitute: Emerance Maschmeyer (G). In reserve: Kayle Osborne (G).
Czechia
Attackers:
Tereza Vanišová – Kateřina Mrázová (A, -1, 2′) – Natalie Mlýnková
Denisa Křížová (A, -1) – Michaela Pejzlova (-1) – Tereza Plosová (-1)
Adéla Šapovalivová (-1) – Kristýna Kaltounkova (-1, 4′) – Klára Hymlarová (-1)
Barbora Juříčková (-1, 2′) – Tereza Pištěková (2′) – Vendula Přibylová (-1)
Linda Vocetková
Defenders:
Aneta Tejralová (C) – Sára Čajanová (-1)
Daniela Pejšová – Noemi Neubauerová (-1)
Dominika Lasková (-1) – Klára Seroiszková (-1)
Andrea Trnková (-1)
Guardian:
Julie Pejšová puis à 13’51” Michaela Hesová
En réserve : Klarar Peslarová (G)
date: 2026-02-10 15:53:00