MILAN (AP) — Canada women's hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin's status is uncertain for her team's highly anticipated preliminary-round matchup against the U.S. after she limped off hurt in a game against Czechia at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Monday.
Coach Troy Ryan said he didn't have full details of Poulin's apparent lower-body injury and that it was too early to say whether she could play against the U.S. on Tuesday after her exit in the first period of Canada's 5-1 win.
Poulin briefly stayed down on the ice after a hard hit from Kristyna Kaltounkova in which the Czech player's upper arm seemed to make contact with Poulin’s helmet. Kaltounkova was given a two-minute penalty for an illegal hit at 8:52 of the first period.
Poulin came back out for a shift on the resulting power play but headed back to the bench within seconds and seemed to be keeping weight off her right leg. She headed to the locker room but was briefly back on the Canadian bench, smiling broadly, near the end of the first. She did not emerge for the second period.
Poulin has shined at the Olympics, earning her “Captain Clutch” nickname by scoring the gold medal-winning goal three times. She was the International Ice Hockey Federation's Female Player of the Year last year and tournament MVP at the last world championships.
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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
