The 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing are less than a month away. This is an exciting time for any fan of the Olympics as countries are announcing their lineups for the games. Today, Hockey Canada officially released the names of the 23 individuals who will represent them on the ice for women’s hockey.
Let’s Meet the Team
This year’s team is an impressive list of players, almost all previous Olympians. Previously, 13 members of the squad were silver medalists on the 2018 PyeongChang team, and there are six gold medal winners from the 2014 Sochi team. The Hockey Canada roster includes 20 members from the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and three players from the collegiate level.
The Forwards
The two most notable names on the Hockey Canada roster are four-time Olympians, Marie-Philip Poulin and Rebecca Johnston. Poulin is most remembered for her impressive performance in her Olympic debut in 2010. She was the lone goal scorer in the Gold Medal game versus the United States. Historically, Poulin has been a key member of every Olympic roster since that fated night in 2010. In 2014, she scored the Game Tying Goal to force overtime and eventually captured their second consecutive Olympic Gold. Poulin was also one of the top point-getters in the 2018 Games.
Rebecca Johnston is a point-per-game player in her Olympics career. She is in the Top 10 all-time for scoring with Canada’s National Women’s Team. She has made 10 consecutive world championship appearances, even coming back from a ruptured Achilles’ tendon to help Canada win world championship gold in 2021. Finally, on the mend, this elite goal scorer will be one of the many players to look out for when the 2022 Games begin.
Completing the forward group is an impressive list of names including Mélodie Daoust, Brianne Jenner, and Natalie Spooner. All three are making their third consecutive Olympic appearances and elite goal scorers in their own right. Sarah Nurse, Emily Clark, Jillian Saulnier, Laura Stacey, and Blayne Turnbull are making their second Olympic appearances. Furthermore, the forward core includes Olympic rookies Sarah Fillier, Emma Maltais, and Jamie Lee Rattray.
Hockey Canada has built a powerhouse forward core that every country should be ready to face.
The Defense
Hockey Canada has brought back well-known defender, Jocelyne Larocque. Larocque has been a staple on the Hockey Canada blue line for over 10 years. Often remembered for the moment pictured above, when Larocque was overcome with emotions after missing gold at the Olympics, Larocque removed the medal from her neck and held it in her hands. In an interview post-ceremony she stated:
“In the moment, I was disappointed with the outcome of the game, and my emotions got the better of me.”
Unsurprisingly, Larocque will be joined by another Olympic veteran, Renata Fast. Fast appearing in her second Olympic Games. Fortunately, Hockey Canada has also added some very impressive new talent to the roster. The most notable addition is Erin Ambrose. Ambrose, most recently, had an impressive performance at the 2021 world championship. She had a phenomenal +10 rating, net two goals, and had three helpers in the tournament.
The Hockey Canada’s blue line will have four Olympic rookies: Ashton Bell, Ella Shelton, Claire Thompson, and Micah Zandee-Hart.
The Goaltenders
Unsurprisingly, Hockey Canada is returning to a very familiar group of goaltenders for the 2022 Olympic Games. Ann-Renée Desbiens, Emerance Maschmeyer, and Kristen Campbell will again be the defenders of the crease for Canada. Previously, these three netminders were all members of the 2018 Hockey Canada team. Recently, they were all members of the team that helped bring Team Canada to gold in the 2021 world championship.
Looking Ahead to the Games
Given Hockey Canada’s recent success at worlds, it would not be a surprise to see them on the podium next month in Beijing. This team is electric on ice, and we can all look forward to some entertaining matchups at the Games. The chemistry in this roster is undeniable. Above all, every member of the team has stated that this is the best team they have ever been a part of. Hockey Canada games will be must-see TV for any women’s hockey fan. Looking forward, I foresee nothing short of pure on-ice magic when Canada hits the ice next month in Beijing.
For more coverage on the upcoming Winter Olympics, be sure to check out Beyond Women’s Sports. You can follow me on Twitter for more on women’s hockey in the PHF and on the Olympic stage.
