TORONTO, Ontario – Hockey Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), has announced the 23-player roster nominated to represent Team Canada in women’s hockey at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Canada’s roster includes three goaltenders, seven defence and 13 forwards:
Seven players—Gardiner, Gosling, Jaques, O’Neill, Osborne, Tabin, Watts—will make their Olympic debuts.
The 23 players nominated for the Games were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Montréal, PWHL) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, AHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input. Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), Hockey Canada’s president and chief executive officer, also provided support as part of the executive committee preparing for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
As part of the journey to Milan, Canada’s management and coaching staff evaluated players through training camps, as well as during the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and collegiate seasons, along with facing the United States in this season’s Rivalry Series.
“Paring down the roster to the final group to represent Canada is always a challenging process,” said Kingsbury. “We began the year with 30 athletes who trained with us throughout the season, while also evaluating a deep pool of talented players, ensuring every decision was carefully considered. We are confident we have selected a highly motivated and eager group who take great pride and passion in wearing the Maple Leaf. It has been a long four-year journey for our entire team, and we are excited for the opportunity to compete for a gold medal at the Olympics.”
Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team includes 16 players who helped capture Canada’s fifth gold medal at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China and 20 who earned a silver medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
“It is always an incredible honour to wear the Maple Leaf, and being selected to my fifth Olympic Games is something I never could have dreamed of as a little girl,” said Poulin. “Being part of Team Canada is so special; it is a moment of great pride and passion that we don’t take for granted as we hope to inspire more young girls to chase their dreams. I couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity ahead of us in Milan.”
In addition to gold in 2022, Canada won four straight Olympic gold medals in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014, and added silver medals in 1998 and 2018.
“Being selected to represent your country at the Olympic Winter Games is an incredible honour, and we congratulate these 23 incredible women for this outstanding achievement,” said Henderson. “As proud Canadians, we are inspired by your accomplishments, and we can’t wait to cheer you on as you wear the Maple Leaf on the world stage and compete for a gold medal.”
In Milan, women’s hockey will take place Feb. 5-19 at both the Milano Rho Arena and Milan Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Canada will be grouped with Czechia, Finland, Switzerland and the United States in Group A. Canada will open the Olympics against Finland on Feb. 5 at 3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 p.m. PT. It will also face Switzerland on Feb. 7 at 3:10 pm. ET/12:10 p.m. PT and Czechia on Feb. 9 at 3:10 p.m. ET/12:10 p.m. PT before closing out preliminary-round action against the United States on Feb. 10 at 2:10 p.m. ET/11:10 a.m. PT.
"Composed of elite professionals, Canada’s women’s Olympic hockey team reflects the strength and standard of the women’s game in this country," said Jennifer Heil, Team Canada's Milano Cortina 2026 chef de mission. "I’m proud to mark this moment with this group, who embody the excellence of Canadian hockey, and the heart and strength of a generation that has never stopped believing in itself. Behind every name is a network of coaches, staff, clubs and families, and we’re grateful for the communities that helped get these athletes to this moment as we turn toward Milano Cortina."
Prior to being named to Team Canada, all nominations are subject to approval by the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Team Selection Committee following its receipt of nominations by all National Sport Organizations.
The latest Team Canada roster can be found here and the qualification tracker can be found here.
For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s (Olympic) Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.