Key Takeaways:
- Two Manitobans, Jocelyne Larocque and Kati Tabin, will be representing Canada’s Olympic women’s hockey team in Italy next month.
- Larocque, a veteran Olympian, is gearing up for her fourth Olympics, while Tabin will be competing in her first Olympic Games.
- The Canadian team is stacked with veterans, with nearly 70% of the 23-player roster having previously won gold in Beijing four years ago.
- The team will face fierce competition in Italy, with several international teams featuring players from the Professional Women’s Hockey League.
- Despite being the reigning Olympic champions, Canada is considered an underdog for the gold medal, following a loss to the American women’s team in the Rivalry Series last month.
Introduction to the Olympic Team
The Canadian Olympic women’s hockey team is gearing up to compete in the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, with two Manitobans, Jocelyne Larocque and Kati Tabin, set to take the ice. Larocque, a veteran Olympian, is preparing for her fourth Olympics, having brought home three medals, including two gold and one silver, since her debut in Sochi in 2014. Tabin, on the other hand, will be competing in her first Olympic Games, having been selected for the team after a successful season with the PWHL’s Montreal Victoire.
The Team’s Roster and Experience
The Canadian team is stacked with veterans, with nearly 70% of the 23-player roster having previously won gold in Beijing four years ago. Each member of the team plays in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, which has helped to raise the level of play and competition. Larocque, who plays for the Ottawa Charge, noted that the competition will be fierce in Italy, with several international teams featuring players from the PWHL. "I think this Olympics will be the fastest-paced Olympics ever because there’s so many players that are playing at a high level every night," she said.
The Manitoban Connection
Larocque and Tabin are both from Manitoba, with Larocque hailing from Ste. Anne and Tabin from Winnipeg. The two players are usually opponents during the regular PWHL season, but they will be teammates in Italy. Tabin said she’s looking forward to playing alongside Larocque, who she described as a "phenomenal player" and a "great person." Larocque, in turn, is excited to lace up alongside rookie Olympians like Tabin, saying, "All those first Olympians, they’re ready to contribute. They’re ready to make an impact on the team…"
The Road to the Olympics
The Canadian team’s road to the Olympics has not been without its challenges. The team suffered a loss to the American women’s team in the Rivalry Series last month, which has led some to describe Canada as an underdog for the gold medal. However, Larocque said the loss did not slash the team’s confidence, and they are still gearing up to compete for gold. "It definitely didn’t go as hoped, but it’s something that we can learn [from] and get better," she said. "The one thing that it didn’t do is that it didn’t waver our confidence. We’re going there expecting gold and playing for gold."
The Competition Ahead
The Canadian team will face stiff competition in Italy, with several international teams featuring players from the PWHL. The American women’s team, in particular, will be a tough opponent, having swept Canada in the Rivalry Series last month. However, Larocque is confident that the Canadian team has what it takes to come out on top. With a strong roster and a wealth of experience, the team is poised to make a deep run in the tournament and bring home another gold medal. As Larocque said, "It’s something that I try to earn every day. And I don’t just assume because I’ve been on the team that I’ll make it. So I think that’s the mentality that has helped me stay on the team."