Marie-Philip Poulin, the celebrated Canadian hockey captain, opened up about her experience representing Canada at the recent Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, where the team narrowly missed out on gold. Despite the tough loss, Poulin expressed deep pride in leading her team and competing on the sport’s biggest stage, emphasizing the honor of wearing the national jersey.
Close Defeat to Team USA in Overtime Decides Championship
In a thrilling final match, Team Canada was defeated 2-1 by Team USA when Megan Keller scored the winning goal during overtime, securing the Americans’ third gold in women’s hockey. Poulin’s leadership was central throughout the tournament, even though she missed the last two preliminary games due to injury. Earlier in the competition, she became the all-time leading Olympic goal-scorer in women’s hockey by netting her 20th goal against Switzerland.
Leadership and Country Pride Defined Through Team Unity
Reflecting on her role as captain, Poulin acknowledged the spirit shared among the players.
“It is the greatest honour for me to wear the maple leaf,”
she wrote on Instagram.
“I am proud of this group of fighters and what we have accomplished together. The challenge was great, and we left everything on the ice. It’s true that gold would have been the ultimate reward, but I am proud of this silver medal. … You don’t win all the time, the margins between victory and defeat are thin, but in the end, what you remember is the journey you had together and the effort you put in.”
Poulin also highlighted the shared values of her teammates, stating,
“All the girls in this dressing room had the maple leaf and the values of their country engraved on their hearts,”
and expressed gratitude for being chosen as their captain.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us, believed in us, and stood behind us every step of the way. Proud to be Canadian.”
Uncertain Future but a Legendary Career So Far
With five Olympic appearances since 2010, Poulin’s international career is among the most distinguished in Canadian hockey history, boasting three gold medals and two silver medals. After the recent silver medal contest, she admitted uncertainty about whether she will compete in the 2030 Winter Olympics in the French Alps.
“I’ll be in the present and go from there,”
she shared with CBC Olympics’ Claire Hanna following the championship game.
Next Steps: Returning to Professional Play
Following her Olympic journey, Poulin is set to return to professional hockey with the Montreal Victoire of the PWHL. She is scheduled to take the ice on Thursday against the New York Sirens, continuing her influential presence in the sport and building on her legacy as a steadfast leader on and off the ice.
Canadian Captain Marie-Philip Poulin just played in her 5th Olympic Gold Medal game & was asked about her desire to play in more #Olympics:
“I’ll be in the present and go from there.” @CBCOlympics #MilanoCortina2026
— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 19, 2026
