Canada Women’s Hockey Next Game: 2026 Olympics Schedule

When Canada’s opening women’s hockey match at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics was postponed just hours before faceoff, players and fans had no idea the detour would end with the team one overtime goal short of gold. The squad battled back from that disruption, worked through a tough group stage, and ultimately fell to the United States 2-1 in overtime on February 19, 2026, surrendering the Olympic title after three straight golds.

Next Game Opponent: Finland · Next Game Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026 · Gold Medal Game Date: February 19, 2026 · Host Venues: Milano Cortina

The key details about Canada’s group placement and tournament parameters are summarized in the table below.

What time is the women’s gold medal hockey game?

The women’s gold medal hockey game at Milano Cortina 2026 was held on February 19, 2026, at PalaItalia in Milan. Canada faced the United States in a rematch of the 2022 Olympic final, this time dropping a 2-1 decision in overtime. The attendance for the championship game was 11,171, according to Wikipedia’s tournament recap.

Gold medal game details

Team USA scored the game-winner 3:33 into the extra period, breaking Canada’s three-Olympic-gold streak that dated back to Vancouver 2010. Canada’s lone goal came from a player who had also contributed in the semifinal against Switzerland. Both nations had navigated through their respective playoffs — the USA posting a 5-0 win over Sweden in semifinals, Canada edging Switzerland 2-1 two days earlier.

Who will Canada play in the women’s hockey semi finals?

Canada defeated Switzerland 2-1 in the semifinals on February 16, 2026, to advance to the gold medal game. The matchup was tight, with Switzerland pushing back after Canada’s opening goals. The result was verified by PWHL’s Olympic schedule page, which tracked all medal-round results throughout the tournament.

Semifinal matchup possibilities

Switzerland arrived in the semifinals after eliminating Finland 1-0 in the quarterfinals — a result that knocked out Canada’s group-stage rival before a potential rematch. The USA had disposed of Sweden 5-0 in their semifinal, setting up the North American final that most analysts had anticipated from the group stage draw. Switzerland ultimately took bronze with a 2-1 overtime win over Sweden on the same day as Canada’s gold medal loss.

Who is Team Canada playing in the quarter finals?

Canada met Germany in the quarterfinals on February 14, 2026, and earned a 5-1 victory to secure their place in the medal round. The win came after Canada had already completed its group stage schedule, which included wins over Switzerland (4-0), Czechia (5-1), a loss to the USA (0-5), and the rescheduled victory over Finland (5-0).

Quarterfinal opponent status

Germany had advanced to the quarterfinals from Group B, where the competition included Sweden, Italy, and Kazakhstan. Russia’s absence (banned due to the invasion of Ukraine) shifted the qualification picture, allowing Germany to claim a spot in the knockout round. The 5-1 scoreline in Canada’s favor reflected Canada’s dominant puck possession and shot quality throughout the game, per Hockey Canada’s official schedule.

What time is the Canadian women’s hockey final?

The Canadian women’s hockey final — which was the gold medal game — took place on February 19, 2026, at PalaItalia in Milan. The overtime loss to the United States 2-1 ended Canada’s bid for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold in women’s hockey. Team Canada Official confirmed the date and venue in their published schedule.

Final game timing

The gold medal game was the final event of the women’s hockey tournament, which ran alongside the men’s competition at Milano Cortina venues. Switzerland had won bronze (2-1 OT over Sweden) earlier the same day before Canada and the USA took the ice for the championship. The game was broadcast across CBC Television and CBC Olympic streaming platforms for Canadian viewers, per Hockey Canada’s broadcast notes.

What is the Canada Olympic hockey team 2026 schedule?

Canada’s complete schedule at Milano Cortina 2026 included five group stage games plus three playoff matches, spanning February 7 to February 19. The opening game against Finland was originally scheduled for February 5 but was postponed due to a norovirus outbreak in the Finnish team before being played on February 12.

Group stage openers

Canada opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Switzerland on February 7, 2026, with Marie-Philip Poulin setting the tone — though the official match sheet credits Boily and Dunn each with two goals and one assist. The team followed with a 5-1 win over Czechia on February 9, then suffered a 0-5 loss to the USA on February 10 that demonstrated the gap between the two North American powers heading into the medal round.

• February 7: Canada 4-0 Switzerland (group stage)
• February 9: Canada 5-1 Czechia (group stage)
• February 10: USA 5-0 Canada (group stage)
• February 12: Canada 5-0 Finland (rescheduled group stage)
• February 14: Canada 5-1 Germany (quarterfinal)
• February 16: Canada 2-1 Switzerland (semifinal)
• February 19: USA 2-1 Canada OT (gold medal game)

Full tournament overview

The women’s tournament featured 10 teams competing at venues including Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena and Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, according to IIHF’s official schedule. Canada finished group stage in second place behind the USA, then dispatched Germany, beat Switzerland in a rematch, and fell to the USA in the final.

Canada’s complete tournament results are listed in the table below, showing each matchup, final score, and stage of competition. For more details on the upcoming South American qualifiers, check out the Pròxima data eliminatòries sudamericanes 2026.

Tournament Timeline

• February 5, 2026: Canada vs Finland women’s group stage opener originally scheduled (postponed due to norovirus) (Hockey Canada announcement)
• February 7, 2026: Canada beats Switzerland 4-0 (PWHL)
• February 9, 2026: Canada beats Czechia 5-1 (PWHL)
• February 10, 2026: Canada loses to USA 0-5 (PWHL)
• February 12, 2026: Canada beats Finland 5-0 (rescheduled match) (PWHL)
• February 14, 2026: Canada beats Germany 5-1 in quarterfinals (PWHL)
• February 16, 2026: Canada beats Switzerland 2-1 in semifinals (PWHL)
• February 19, 2026: Canada loses to USA 1-2 OT in gold medal game (PWHL)

Confirmed vs. Unclear

These two columns separate what is definitively known from what remains uncertain based on available reporting.

What People Are Saying

Canada blanks Finland to end women’s hockey group stage

— NBC Sports (Broadcaster), NBC Sports Olympics coverage

The game between Canada and Finland has been postponed and will now be played on Feb. 12

— Hockey Canada (Official Update), Hockey Canada announcement

Summary

For Canadian women’s hockey, the silver medal at Milano Cortina 2026 represents more than a missed opportunity — it marks the end of a decade of dominance that began with the Vancouver 2010 gold. The team navigated a chaotic opening when the Finland match was pushed back a week due to norovirus, then fought through a demanding group stage before falling to the USA in a championship game that ended in sudden-death overtime. Switzerland’s bronze medal finish underlined a widening competitive field in women’s international hockey, with Finland’s early elimination and the USA’s growing strength suggesting the next Olympic cycle will demand even more from Canada’s roster.

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