Canada looks to defend women’s hockey gold, unfazed by norovirus

Team Canada Huddle before a preliminary round match of women's ice hockey between the Switzerland and Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026.

Hours before taking the ice in their opener against Switzerland, members of Canada’s Women’s Hockey team were shrugging off the postponement of their initial first game.

“A lot of the players had been through this when we were in Beijing, we had to wear a KN95 masks during one of our games,” said Assistant Captain, Blayre Turnbull. “A little adversity like this, I don’t think shakes us up too much. I think it just adds a lot of excitement and eagerness to puck drop.”

Canada and Finland were forced to reschedule on Thursday, when four members of the Finnish team got the norovirus. A case on the Swiss team was confirmed two days later.

Olympic officials are confident their health and safety measures are working and that it’s contained.

“One case in the Swiss team. But let’s be very clear, no outbreak. And those cases came with symptoms,” said Christophe Dubi, executive director of the Olympic Games. She added that the medical teams handled it “super nicely.”

The Canadian women’s team says they’re confident in their medical and trying to lean on lessons learned.

“COVID has taught us so many things and I think we’ve learned a lot from it. We’ve been really diligent (with) washing our hands and staying as a group, staying close together and like eating together and all of that. Really happy about that,” Ann-Renne Desbiens, Team Canada’s goaltender said.

They’re taking added measures in the communal dining hall in the athlete’s village where they sometime share bottles. Some members are invited to wear masks or gloves.

“We’ve been washing our hands with soap and water like mad, more hand washing then I’ve ever done in my life for sure,” said Turnbull.

Turning their attention to the tournament, in which they are considered an underdog, they’re not letting that get to them.

“I love a good underdog story. I think amongst our team we know it’s not really the case. I know, we believe in all the players we have. We’re (a) resilient group with a lot of leadership,” Desbiens said, adding that she can’t wait to see how this year’s squad adapts, and how physical and disciplined the group will be.

This is the first Olympic Games since the launch of the PWHL, with the league putting a spotlight on the extraordinary talent within the sport. It’s anticipated that this tournament will be the strongest one yet, with fast action and aggressive plays.

“With the PWHL and how physical it’s been… Some of the other countries too (are) growing and the girls (are) getting stronger and bigger. It’s super exciting,” Desbiens said.

“I think from the fans’ perspective, to be able to watch this level of hockey here and the games being tight… Just makes it interesting.”

The team has a roster stacked with Olympic experience, lead by veterans Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner, along with several other players hockey fans have come to know.

The team is looking to defend its gold medal from 2022, when they reclaimed it from long-time rivals – the United States.