Key Takeaways:
- Hockey Canada will announce their 2026 women’s hockey Olympic roster on January 9 on TSN.
- The later announcement date has given Canada’s management additional time to scout players and potentially make roster changes.
- Canada’s losses to the USA in the Rivalry Series and at the 2025 World Championships have prompted calls for change from fans.
- Several players are on the bubble for a roster spot, including Kayle Osborne, Eve Gascon, Jocelyne Larocque, Nicole Gosling, Kati Tabin, Micah Zandee-Hart, Chloe Primerano, Caitlin Kraemer, Danielle Serdachny, Hannah Miller, Natalie Spooner, and Brianne Jenner.
- Canada may also consider players outside of their 30-player pool, including Hannah Murphy, Ashton Bell, Kendall Cooper, Jaime Bourbonnais, Rebecca Leslie, Anne Cherkowski, Abby Hustler, and Jamie Lee Rattray.
Introduction to the Roster Announcement
Hockey Canada will announce their 2026 women’s hockey Olympic roster on January 9 on TSN, according to the governing body. This announcement comes after USA Hockey announced their men’s, women’s, and Paralympic rosters together on January 2, live on the TODAY Show. Canada’s men’s Olympic roster was announced on December 31, but there was no mention or public notification of a women’s hockey announcement. The later announcement date has given Canada’s management additional time to scout players and potentially make roster changes.
The Rivalry Series and Its Impact
Canada’s losses to the USA in the Rivalry Series and at the 2025 World Championships have prompted calls for change from fans. The team was swept by the USA in the Rivalry Series, being outscored 24-7 in those games. This included the first time in Canadian women’s national team history that the program allowed double-digit goals against in a single game, falling 10-4 to the USA in game three of the Rivalry Series. The losses have put pressure on Canada’s management to make changes to the roster and coaching staff.
Bubble Players
Several players are on the bubble for a roster spot, including Kayle Osborne and Eve Gascon in net, Jocelyne Larocque, Nicole Gosling, Kati Tabin, Micah Zandee-Hart, and Chloe Primerano on the blueline, and Caitlin Kraemer, Danielle Serdachny, Hannah Miller, Natalie Spooner, and Brianne Jenner up front. These players have been part of Canada’s 30-player pool that attended multi-week training camps in Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal, and faced the USA in the four-game Rivalry Series. The additional time given to Canada’s management may result in roster changes, and some of these players may find themselves on the outside looking in.
Players Outside the 30-Player Pool
Canada may also consider players outside of their 30-player pool. In net, Hannah Murphy has been strong in the PWHL, helping the Seattle Torrent turn the corner after a slow start. On the blueline, players like Ashton Bell, Kendall Cooper, and Jaime Bourbonnais have played well this season in the PWHL. Up front, the hot hand of Rebecca Leslie in Ottawa could spark interest, and Anne Cherkowski has played a key role in New York’s turnaround. Abby Hustler has provided physicality and played hard-checking hockey in Minnesota, and Jamie Lee Rattray could be another player to watch after being removed from Canada’s pool last year.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
While there remain many question marks, it’s likely Canada will avoid pulling from outside their 30-player pool and instead go with a very familiar, veteran roster for the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina. Fans will find out for sure on January 9 when the roster is announced. The team’s performance in the Rivalry Series and at the 2025 World Championships has put pressure on Canada’s management to make changes, but it remains to be seen if they will take a chance on new players or stick with the familiar faces. One thing is certain, however: the 2026 Olympics will be an exciting and highly anticipated event, and Canada’s women’s hockey team will be looking to bring home a gold medal.