Resilience refers to the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.

While all great teams face obstacles on route to the top, few teams can say they were able to navigate them as well as Canada’s National Women’s Team.

Through a global pandemic, event cancellations, isolations and so much more, the 2021-22 edition of Team Canada rose above time and time again, staying committed to achieving greatness “our way.”

After COVID-19 wreaked havoc on the 2019-20 season, 2021 looked to provide a sense of normalcy, with the IIHF Women’s World Championship set for April in Halifax and Truro, N.S. But less than two weeks before the puck was set to drop, the Province of Nova Scotia withdrew its support of the event, citing rising COVID-19 numbers.

“I think going into April, we were fully expecting to play, and we felt very prepared,” remembers Blayre Turnbull, a Stellarton, N.S., native and one of two Nova Scotians on the Team Canada roster. “So obviously there was a huge sense of disappointment when things got cancelled, but I think it did really bring the group even closer together. It was a piece of adversity that at the time was devastating, but in hindsight, I think it really helped bond our group, and I think it made us even more grateful for the upcoming camps and tournaments and time that we got to spend and play together.”

Staying adaptable and open-minded proved vital as the team navigated a COVID “bubble” last summer as the rescheduled women’s worlds took shape in Calgary in August. With no fans, friends or family, the team grew even closer away from the rink as their efforts on the ice started to pay off.

Sarah Fillier, who finished with three goals and three assists in her world championship debut, remembers the adjustments she had to make playing in front of an empty arena: “Being able to wear that jersey, one of the things you think about is just your parents and really close friends getting to watch you compete on that international stage.

“The team turned into a family for all of us, and we were trying to adapt to a situation that no one really ever has before, and luckily, we were an incredibly close group.”

Canada hadn’t won women’s worlds gold since 2012—the Americans had claimed the past five world titles, four with wins over the Canadians in the final. That hunger fed Team Canada, which vowed to take back the top spot from their rivals on home ice.

The team captured the hearts and minds of Canadians with their run in Calgary, going undefeated with 34 goals in seven games. The bond between teammates and excitement for the return of women’s hockey was clear as constant smiles, hugs and goal celebrations were accompanied by convincing wins – 5-1 over ROC, 5-0 over Switzerland and 5-1 over the U.S. (Canada’s biggest win over its rival since 2017).

But they saved the best for last. A back-and-forth gold medal game needed overtime after Canada erased an early two-goal deficit, and it was two of the most seasoned veterans that combined on history.

With 25 years on the national team between the two of them, Brianne Jenner and dashed down the ice in 3-on-3 overtime, Jenner connecting with Poulin like the linemates had done so many times before.

The rest is history.

That golden moment was more than a world championship win. It marked the return of hockey not just for Team Canada, but for so many Canadians who in just a few short weeks would getting back on the ice after a lost season of sorts in 2020-21.

The world title was just the beginning, though. With gold medals around their necks, celebrations lasted only a week or so as eyes turned forward toward the next goal—gold at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

“I think everybody really appreciated coming out of the pandemic and having an opportunity to compete for world championships,” says head coach Troy Ryan. “So that was huge. But then to get validated for all the little adjustments and changes that all of us had to make for each other, seeing them get rewarded for all their hard work, you knew that that commitment would remain, heading into the Olympics as well.”

On a journey with even more obstacles ahead, buy-in from the group was crucial, knowing the stress of navigating a pandemic on top of trying to make an Olympic team could break down even the most veteran teams.

“We had many Zoom calls, group texts, so many different conversations about what we thought was best for the team and how we could make the most out of our training camp and our quarantine at the hotel, and really keep girls positive and make sure that everybody knew that although we had just been through so much adversity, we were fully prepared to play and we were fully prepared to win,” Turnbull says. “And I think once we hit the ice, it was really evident that it was going to be hard to stop our team.”

The season began in September with 29 athletes centralized in Calgary. The team faced teams from the B.C. Hockey League and Alberta Junior Hockey League, took to the ice for Rivalry Series matchups against the United States and travelled abroad for a three-game series against Finland as part of their Olympic preparations.

“As a team, we traveled so much, which is super taxing on the body,” says Turnbull, who missed the early part of the season after breaking her ankle in the dog pile following Poulin’s overtime winner at worlds. “We went from Calgary to Finland, to Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa. We were away for so much of the season.”

And with that travel came the increased risk of COVID-19, the team navigating close encounters on top of the stressors of cuts to the centralization roster as the Beijing Games approached.

Much of the credit, according to Poulin, goes to director of hockey operations Gina Kingsbury and team physician Dr. Tina Atkinson, who handled the pandemic logistics while the team focused on the ice. “I don’t know how much they slept in the past year, to be honest,” Poulin says with a smile. “Gina and Doc were super amazing to work with. They told us what was happening and [were always] on top of things. This group was really adaptable and very resilient.”

The pandemic threw yet another wrench into their season just over a month before the team was due to depart for Beijing, cutting short a late-December road trip in the U.S. and forcing the cancellation of the final leg of the Rivalry Series just as the final Olympic team was to be named.

“After Christmas, it was probably the most stressful time of the year after the team was picked,” Turnbull recounts. “And we were training in Calgary in January with the goal of making it to China as a team but understanding how difficult it was going to be over the next three, four weeks.”

After a few more weeks of isolated training in Calgary, sometimes practicing in masks (as would prove handy in their Olympic showing against ROC), the 23 Olympians set off for Beijing—10 for their first Olympic Games ever—on a mission to be golden once again.

And just like they were in Calgary, Canada was historically good in Beijing.

The Canadians went undefeated again, with Team Canada first-timer Claire Thompson setting a new Olympic record for most points by a defenceman and Sarah Nurse breaking the records for most assists and most points in one Games.

“One of the coolest things that surfaced through [the Olympics] was we didn't know where we would get goals from, we just knew we would get some,” reflects Ryan—who served as an assistant coach when Canada settled for silver at the 2018 Olympics. “Same thing defensively. It wasn't just [Jocelyne] Larocque and [Renata] Fast that did the job, there were other people that stood up.

“There were people breaking individual records at the Olympics. It was almost like they weren't even aware. They didn't get caught up in it. It was like a knuckle tap and a smirk and away you go. To me, that was cool.”

And as the hockey gods would have it, the Canadians would have to go through their storied rivals once again with gold on the line.

Nurse and Poulin scored in the first period, Poulin added another midway through the second and not even a late-game push by the Americans could overpower Team Canada—it was Olympic gold for the fifth time in six Games with Poulin netting the game-winner, making her the only player ever—man or woman—to score in four consecutive Olympic finals.

“I was counting down on the bench, and I remember when we hopped off at the end of the game, I just immediately started crying,” Fillier recalls. “I just remember being speechless, for at least 24 hours, about how I just had this gold medal in my hands.”

The explosion of tears and hugs commemorated more than just another Olympic victory, they were celebrations of every past struggle and challenge, the team’s commitment paying off at last.

“This is the best hockey team that I've ever been a part of,” says Turnbull. “And I'm not including any of the records we set at the Olympics. That's just because of the people in the locker room and the teammates that I got to share so many memories with.”

Through staffing changes, new rosters, cancellations and pandemics, the 2021-22 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Team persevered through the most trying of times, winning hockey’s biggest prizes and doing it their way.

“We started with ‘Our Way’ and we stuck with it all the way to the end,” says Poulin. “We stuck together. The coaching staff, the GM, they had our plan, and for us, we're just following it. Following along and doing our best. Being resilient, buying in and having fun after it all.”

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 16)

TV: CBC | Stream: CBC.ca

A rematch four years in the making, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team faces its long-time rivals from the United States in the gold medal game at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

LAST GAME

Canada got points from 16 different players (including all 13 forwards) and racked up 61 shots on goal in a 10-3 semifinal win over Switzerland. Marie-Philip Poulin scored twice and Sarah Nurse recorded four more assists, tying Hayley Wickenheiser’s 2006 record for helpers in an Olympic tournament with 12. Brianne Jenner made a little history of her own, closing out the scoring with her ninth goal, equalling the Olympic record.

The Americans started slow against the Finns in their semifinal, but Cayla Barnes got the scoring started on the power play early in the second period and the U.S. never looked back, earning a 4-1 victory. Barnes and Hilary Knight finished with a goal and an assist each.

LAST MEETING

In their 163rd all-time meeting just seven days ago, Canada used a second-period flurry to earn a 4-2 victory in the preliminary-round finale. Ann-Renée Desbiens was the big story, making 51 saves to set a Canadian Olympic record for stops in a game (men’s or women’s hockey). Jenner, Jamie Lee Rattray and Poulin (on a penalty shot) scored 5:25 apart late in the middle frame to turn a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. Jenner finished with a pair of goals, Poulin added a goal and a helper and the Canadians killed five of six U.S. power plays.

WHAT TO WATCH

While the talk has been mostly focused on Canada’s outstanding offensive production – the team tops the tournament in goals (54), shooting percentage (17.4%) and power play (45.5%) – it’s the rookie-laden defence that has been the secret weapon. Claire Thompson and Erin Ambrose are the highest-scoring defencemen ever in a single women’s Olympic tournament (Thompson – 2-10—12; Ambrose – 4-5—9) and all seven D have at least two points. Their ability to generate offence from the blue line has been a major contributor to Canada’s success, but against the scoring threat the Americans pose, Canada’s defensive line will be critical.

The Americans will need to either slow down the record-setting Canadian offence, or keep up. The U.S. has been getting offence from up and down the lineup, with the usual suspects of Knight (5-4—9), Amanda Kessel (2-5—7) and Kendall Coyne Schofield (3-3—6) leading the way. That balanced production (seven players averaging at least a point a game) will need to continue if the U.S. hopes to defend its 2018 gold.

A LOOK BACK

While Canada has the all-time edge with 92 wins in 163 games, this rivalry is about as even as they come. Need proof? In the last 12 meetings between the rivals, six of those games have needed overtime (Canada has won four, with Poulin getting the GWG in three), and since the 2018 Olympics, the teams have split their 22 matchups almost down the middle (Canada has an 12-10 edge).

There have been nine Olympic meetings since 1998, with the Canadians winning six of those. Canada and the U.S. split their 2018 contests – Genevieve Lacasse made 44 saves in a 2-1 prelim win, before the Canadians dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker in shootout in the gold medal game.

All-time record: Canada leads 92-70-1 (20-17 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 448
United States goals: 395

CALGARY, Alta. – Hockey Canada has solidified its coaching staff for the Women’s Olympic Team, one day after unveiling the 28 players selected to centralize in Calgary in preparation for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Feb. 4-20 in Beijing, China.

Head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.) will be joined by assistants Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S./Ryerson University, OUA), Doug Derraugh (Arnprior, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) and Jim Midgley (Townsend, Ont.), as well as goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, Alta./University of Calgary, CW).

“It is an honour and privilege to be entrusted with this leadership opportunity,” said Ryan. “Hockey Canada has put together a tremendous staff to share this journey with. We are very excited to get to work with such an amazing and committed group of elite athletes on a daily basis as we prepare for Beijing 2022.”

The coaching staff was selected by Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.), director of women’s national teams, Tom Renney (Cranbrook, B.C.), chief executive officer, Scott Smith (Bathurst, N.B.), president and chief operating officer, in consultation with Scott Salmond (Creston, B.C.) senior vice-president of national teams, and management consultant Cassie Campbell-Pascall (Brampton, Ont.).

“This four-year Olympic quad has challenged our coaching staff with adjustments to the changing landscape of our game,” said Kingsbury. “Troy has provided our program with consistency, and we feel he is well-suited to lead us through the 2021-22 season and to our ultimate goal of winning an Olympic gold medal. With limited time for competition, our coaching staff has bonded quickly, which is what we need in both short-term and long-term competition.”

Ryan is entering his third season as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team. As an assistant coach, he earned a silver medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, silver at the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship and bronze at the 2019 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Ryan also earned a silver medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2017 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. The Atlantic Canada female coach mentor with the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic since 2016, he served as head coach of Team Atlantic at the 2015 National Women’s Under-18 Championship and has also been behind the bench at the Canada Winter Games (men’s and women’s hockey), World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, World Junior A Challenge and Centennial Cup (formerly the RBC Cup).

Cheverie has served as an assistant coach with the men’s hockey team at Ryerson University since 2016. On the international stage, she won a gold medal as an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team at the 2019 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, and was an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team for the Rivalry Series in February 2020. Cheverie also served as head coach of Team Ontario Red at the 2019 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, winning a gold medal.

Derraugh has been the head coach of the Cornell University women’s hockey team for the past 15 seasons, leading it to seven NCAA tournament appearances and four trips to the Frozen Four. Internationally, he won a gold medal as an assistant coach at the 2012 IIHF Women’s World Championship, and captured silver medals as head coach in 2015 and as an assistant a year later. Derraugh also won a gold medal as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team at the 2014 4 Nations Cup, along with silver as an assistant in 2011 and 2018.

Midgley most recently scouted for the Philadelphia Flyers and was an assistant coach with the Iserlohn Roosters of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga in 2019-20. He coached the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in 2017-18 after serving as an assistant coach for six seasons (2011-17). Midgley was also an assistant coach with the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL (2007-09) and with Acadia University (2002-07). He was the video coach for Canada’s National Men’s Under-18 Team at the 2016 IIHF U18 World Championship.

Kirkwood has served as goaltending consultant for Canada’s National Women’s Team since 2015 and has earned silver medals at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games and IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2016 and 2017. Kirkwood also won a gold medal with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2015 Nations Cup. He is the goaltending coach for the men’s and women’s hockey teams at the University of Calgary and for the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League.   

Hockey Canada also announced the support staff that will work with Canada’s National Women’s Team throughout the 2021-22 centralization season through to the 2022 Olympics:

• video coach James Emery (Calgary, Alta.)
• therapists Christine Atkins (Fort Macleod, Alta.) and Jami Boyd (Minnedosa, Man.)
• massage therapist Andrea Purdy (Toronto, Ont.)
• team physician Tina Atkinson (Shelburne, N.S./Halifax, QMJHL)
• strength and conditioning coach Jeremy Steinbach (Binbrook, Ont.)
• mental performance consultant Kim Thompson (Orleans, Ont.)
• equipment managers Alana Goulden (Aurora, Ont./Ryerson University, OUA) and Serge LeBlanc (Grande-Digue, N.B./Université de Moncton, AUS)
• managers of women’s national teams Tania Kenny (Toronto, Ont.) and Dylan Rockwell (Calgary, Alta.)
• media relations Esther Madziya (Lethbridge, Alta.)

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook and Twitter.

Hockey Canada announced Wednesday the 28 players chosen to centralize in Calgary with Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2021-22 season, leading up to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, Feb. 4-20 in Beijing, China.

The 28-player roster includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen and 16 forwards. It features 17 players who centralized ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, including 14 who earned a silver medal in PyeongChang, South Korea (Clark, Daoust, Desbiens, Fast, Jenner, Johnston, Larocque, Mikkelson, Nurse, Poulin, Saulnier, Spooner, Stacey, Turnbull).

The roster was selected by head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.), in consultation with Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, Que.), director of women’s national teams with Hockey Canada, and included support from assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, N.S./Ryerson University, OUA), Doug Derraugh (Arnprior, Ont./Cornell University, ECAC) and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, Alta./University of Calgary, CW).

“When we started this Olympic quad in the fall of 2018, our road to 2022 looked very different,” said Kingsbury. “Through adversity, in particular a lack of international competition over the last 14 months, our athletes have stayed focused, committed to their training and ready to compete when the time came. We had some difficult decisions to make, but that just shows how hard our athletes have worked on and off the ice for the opportunity to centralize and get a chance to compete for 23 Olympic roster spots. We have a number of veterans on this roster in addition to some young athletes who have earned this opportunity.”

All players and staff will relocate to Calgary at the end of July for centralization and prepare for the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Aug. 20-31 at a yet-to-be-determined location, before resuming their Olympic training. The 2021-22 season, pending the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, will include games against the United States as well as a potential series against Finland. The full centralization schedule will be announced at a later date.

Canada’s final 23-player roster for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games is tentatively scheduled to be unveiled in late December.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter and Twitter.com/HC_Women.

GANGNEUNG, South Korea – The Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team will return home to Canada with a silver medal following a shootout loss to the United States on Thursday afternoon.

Canada and the United States exchanged leads throughout the game, with the Americans getting on the board first on a power-play goal by Hilary Knight in the closing seconds of the opening frame. Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) tied things up at the two-minute mark of the second period, and Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL) netted the go-ahead goal for the red-and-white less than three minutes later.

Canada retained the lead until Monique Lamoureux-Morando beat Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alta.) at 13:39 of the third period to tie things up between the cross-border rivals. The score remained tied at two through 20 minutes of four-on-four overtime, and the shootout saw the teams at a stalemate with two goals and three misses apiece. It was Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson who closed the U.S. scoring, earning the game-winning goal in the shootout. [Full game story and stats available at HockeyCanada.ca.]

“Right now, it’s really tough, obviously. When you play in the final, you want to win. It was a good game; both teams gave their all. It’s sad to lose in a shootout,” said Poulin of heading home with a silver medal for Canada after winning gold medals at her first two Olympic appearances. She remarked that Thursday’s nail-biter put the female game on display for the excitement it brings to fans. “Every four years we elevate the way we play; obviously, for women’s hockey, it’s great. We played great. It shows how much women’s hockey is growing.”

Canada finished the Games with a 4-1 record after going undefeated in its preliminary match-ups against the Olympic Athletes from Russia, Finland, and the United States. Canada advanced to the gold-medal game after a 5-0 semifinal victory over the Olympic Athletes from Russia on Feb. 19.

“It’s hard [to lose in the shootout]. There are not a lot of words to describe how you feel, but you know it was a great game of hockey,” said head coach Laura Schuler (Scarborough, Ont.). “That was what we expected – back-and-forth hockey. It was a battle until the end. It’s always been back-and-forth hockey for the past 20 years. It was obviously a great game, but not the outcome we wanted.”

Szabados, who made 36 saves in the gold-medal game, received the IIHF Directorate award as Top Goaltender, while Canadians Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./McGill University, RSEQ) and Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont./Markham, CWHL) were also recognized for their tournament play, being selected to the Media All-Star Team. Daoust was also named tournament MVP by the media.

In addition to its four gold medals (2014, 2010, 2006, 2002), the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan. PyeongChang 2018 marked the sixth time women’s hockey has been part of the Olympic Winter Games.

Canada's Women’s Olympic Team is schedule to depart from South Korea on Monday, Feb. 26. Canadian player airport arrival information will be issued in the coming days prior to departure from the Olympic Village.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Women.

INCHEON, South Korea – Hockey Canada announced the addition of Perry Pearn (Stettler, Alta.) to the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team coaching staff as an assistant coach for the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

Pearn will join the coaching staff that includes head coach Laura Schuler (Scarborough, Ont.) as a third assistant coach, alongside Troy Ryan (Spryfield, N.S.), Dwayne Gylywoychuk (Winnipeg, Man.) and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, Alta.).

“Perry has been working with our program since August and we are excited that he can officially join us at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games,” said Melody Davidson, general manager, national women’s team programs. “Perry has done a significant amount of pre-scout work and will continue to be an eye in the sky for our team. His presence will provide consistency in our day-to-day in PyeongChang and we’d like to thank the Canadian Olympic Committee and POCOG for supporting his addition to our accredited staff.”

Most recently on the international women’s stage, Pearn was an integral part of Canada’s National Women’s Development Team at the 2018 Nations Cup in Füssen, Germany. Behind the bench with Team Canada, Pearn won gold as head coach of Canada’s National Junior Team at the 1993 IIHF World Junior Championship, and also as an assistant coach in 1990 and 1991.

“Our entire coaching staff is really looking forward to continuing our relationship with Perry; we value his international experience and the insight he brings to our team” said Schuler. “Having worked closely with Perry throughout the season we are excited to have him join us on this final leg of our journey.”

Pearn has also served as an assistant coach in the National Hockey League over the span of 20 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, Ottawa Senators, New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens and Winnipeg Jets.

“I’m really looking forward to continuing to work alongside Laura and her coaching staff,” said Pearn. “It’s been great to be involved throughout the season and I will continue to do everything I can to help support this team as it goes for gold in PyeongChang.”

Canada will look to win its fifth-straight gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games when the puck drops in South Korea on Feb. 11. In addition to its four gold medals, the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

The Olympic women’s hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada is scheduled to compete in Group A and begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.                                                      

For more information on Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Women.

CALGARY, Alta. – Marie-Philip Poulin has been selected to lead the Canadian women’s hockey contingent at the upcoming 2018 Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.

The two-time Olympic gold-medallist from Beauceville, Que., has worn the ‘C’ for Canada since the 2015 IIHF Women's World Championship and will be joined on the leadership team by three-time Olympic gold-medallist Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.), and 2014 Olympic gold-medallists Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) and Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man./Markham, CWHL).

“This is a collaborative group of leaders that continue to inspire and unite our team season after season,” said head coach Laura Schuler. “We’re confident in the abilities of this group and we know they will be successful at guiding the many layers of leadership that we have throughout our team.” 

Canada’s 23-player roster includes 14 players who won the gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia; six players who won the gold medal at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C.; and one player who won the gold medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy.

“It’s an honour to be selected to lead this group at the Olympic Winter Games and to wear the ‘C’ after so many inspirational leaders that have come before me,” said Poulin. “This is a special group of 23 players and we’re excited to hit the ice together for the first time in South Korea in a few days.”

Poulin, 26, is the fifth player chosen to lead Canada’s National Women’s Team at the Olympic Winter Games. Caroline Ouellette (2014), Hayley Wickenheiser (2010), Cassie Campbell (2006, 2002) and Stacey Wilson (1998) also captained Canada.

Canada will look to win its fifth-straight gold medal at the Olympic Winter Games when the puck drops in South Korea on Feb. 11. In addition to its four gold medals, the Canadian Women’s Olympic Hockey Team also claimed silver in 1998 in Nagano, Japan.

The Olympic women’s hockey tournament opens on Saturday, Feb. 10 at the Kwandong Hockey Centre and culminates on Thursday, Feb. 22 at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. Canada is scheduled to compete in Group A and begins preliminary-round play on Sunday, Feb. 11.

It’s quite easy to get inspired listening to Emily Clark.

The Saskatoon native is one of 28 players centralized with Canada’s National Women’s Team, trying to make the final roster that will compete at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.

Despite 27 national team games and three IIHF Women’s World Championships under her belt, Clark still finds herself in awe when she joins her Team Canada mates.

“Everyone talks about how special it is putting the Maple Leaf on for the first time but, really, every time you get to do it, you get to live out your childhood dream and not a lot of people can say that,” says Clark. “Just even walking in the locker room, the jersey is always facing out so you can see the logo and then you look up and see your name plate on your stall, it’s pretty cool and it’s a reminder that you get to live out your dream.”

Clark, 21, is the fourth-youngest player on the centralization roster, with only the Potomak sisters – 19-year-old Sarah and 18-year-old Amy – and 20-year-old blue-liner Micah Zandee-Hart younger.

Still, she can hardly be considered a rookie given her Team Canada experience to date. In addition to her three women’s worlds (she won silver in 2015, 2016 and 2017), Clark has a pair of gold medals from the 2012 and 2013 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championships, and also spent time with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team.

Clark is also putting together quite the college career at the University of Wisconsin, getting even more big-game experience. In 2016-17, she led the NCAA in game-winning goals with nine, finished third in Wisconsin scoring and was named to the WCHA Third All-Star Team. In each of her three seasons the Badgers have reached the NCAA Frozen Four, including last season’s run all the way to the championship game.

The next seven months, though, are all about the Olympics and chasing the gold medal. Clark witnessed first-hand the magic of a Team Canada gold medal celebration, as she helped support the recent Hockey Canada Foundation gala in Saskatoon, which celebrated Canada’s National Sledge Team gold medal win at the 2017 IPC World Para Hockey Championship.

Hockey Canada invited Clark to take part and she soaked up every second.

“It’s pretty cool to get the invite and be a part of that, especially with it being in my hometown,” says Clark. “I like to follow along with all the national teams and I followed the sledge team and their journey; to watch them get their rings and be a part of their celebration was pretty special. It’s inspiring because you hope to win a world championship every year. I drew some inspiration from those guys and to have an event like that in Saskatoon was pretty special.”

The gala is held each year to help support grassroots hockey and the 2017 event in Saskatoon benefitted Clark’s hometown along with a number of surrounding communities. That support is paramount to Clark, who still cherishes her minor hockey days in Saskatoon.

Clark says her game was “built in Saskatchewan,” highlighting her attention to detail, strong work ethic and “not being afraid to grind and getting bounced around in the corners.”

Clark is the only player from Saskatchewan on the centralization roster. Going all the way back to the Olympic debut of women’s hockey in 1998, Team Canada has always included at least one player from the Prairie province. Of course, it helped that Hayley Wickenheiser also calls Saskatchewan home.

Wickenheiser retired from the game earlier this year and, while she will long remain the standard-bearer for women’s hockey in the province, Clark represents the next wave of young hockey greats from Saskatchewan.

She seems more than ready to take on the responsibility of being a role model for girls from Weyburn to Rosetown to Nipawin and La Ronge.

“It’s hard to wrap my head around,” she says. “Obviously, I grew up watching Hayley. For every girl across the country, Hayley Wickenheiser is obviously one of the greats of our game but being from Saskatchewan, I feel like I connected to that a little extra than some of the other girls my age.

“Just this past year, I think [being a role model has] sunk in a bit, being able to go out to some girls skates ... I went to the KidSport event in Saskatoon recently and got to play road hockey with some of the younger girls. Just having them come up and ask me questions or for a signature, or just hearing from their parents about how excited they were to get a talk with me, saying they watched worlds and want to be just like me, obviously there is a responsibility that comes with that, but it’s a cool opportunity to be a role model for those girls in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan.”

The centralization roster includes three goaltenders, nine defencemen, and 16 forwards, and features 14 players who won gold at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. It also includes 21 players who captured silver at the 2017 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Plymouth, Mich.

The 28 players that will centralize in Calgary include:

• Goaltenders: Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA),Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Shannon Szabados (Edmonton/Fort Saskatchewan, CHL);
• Defencemen: Erin Ambrose (Keswick, Ont./Toronto, CWHL), Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./Toronto, CWHL),Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont./Brampton, CWHL), Micah Hart (Saanichton, B.C./Cornell University, ECAC), Halli Krzyzaniak (Neepawa, Man./University of North Dakota, WCHA), Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL), Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man./Brampton, CWHL), Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, CWHL), Lauriane Rougeau (Beaconsfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL);
• Forwards: Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.),Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Calgary, CWHL), Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./McGill University, RSEQ), Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL), Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL) Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA), Amy Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./Pacific, JWHL), Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C./University of Minnesota, WCHA), Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL), Jillian Saulnier (Halifax/Calgary, CWHL),Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL),Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Brampton, CWHL),Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, N.S./Calgary, CWHL), Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Linköping HC, SWE).

The roster was selected by head coach Laura Schuler alongside Melody Davidson, Hockey Canada’s general manager of national women’s team programs, and included support from Hockey Canada regional scouts, assistant coaches Dwayne Gylywoychuk and Troy Ryan, and goaltending coach Brad Kirkwood.

“We’re looking forward to continuing our preparation for PyeongChang with this dedicated group of athletes,” said Schuler. “It was a difficult process selecting the 28 players that will vie for a spot on Canada’s Olympic roster and we’re excited to be one step closer in that journey.”

Canada’s National Women’s Team also announced that goaltenders Emerance Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Calgary, CWHL) and Erica Howe (Orleans, Ont./Brampton, CWHL) will be available to support the centralization roster throughout the 2017-18 season but will remain with their club teams.

All 28 players named to Canada’s National Women’s Team centralization roster will begin their preparation with fitness testing in late May. Details on the location of camp will be announced next week.

The players and staff will come together in Calgary this August on a full-time basis with Hockey Canada, based out of the Markin MacPhail Centre at WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. As part of the preparation for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, the 2017-18 season will be highlighted by the 2017 4 Nations Cup and other games that will be announced at a later date.

Canada’s final 23-player roster for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games is tentatively scheduled to be determined in late December.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow through social media onFacebook,Twitter, and Twitter.com/HC_Women.