Why Has Team Canada’s Women’s Hockey Opener at Milano Cortina Been Postponed?

Team Canada’s long-awaited women’s hockey opener at the Milano Cortina Olympics will have to wait a little longer. The game, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been postponed and rescheduled for Feb. 12  at 2:30 p.m. ET at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, following a significant illness outbreak among Team Finland.

Illness Forces Olympic Delay for Team Canada Women’s Hockey

The postponement was confirmed shortly after Finland wrapped up an early-afternoon practice that featured just eight skaters and two goaltenders. The rest of the roster has been sidelined by a norovirus outbreak that began spreading through the Finnish team late Tuesday night.

The Finland vs Canada hockey game has been postponed and will now be played on 12 February at 14:30 at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.@CBCOlympics #Olympics #MilanoCortina2026

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 5, 2026

In total, 13 Finnish players are quarantined or isolated due to illness, leaving the team well short of being able to compete safely. Finland’s coaching staff acknowledged that a forfeit was even discussed before the decision was made to delay the matchup.

Finnish head coach Tero Lehtera made it clear the risk was too high. “There’s a chance that if they would play, then it would influence Team Canada and their health as well,” Lehtera said. “I couldn’t risk my players.”

The decision came after consultations with medical professionals and was jointly agreed upon by all governing bodies involved.

In a joint statement, the International Olympic Committee, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organizing Committee, the International Ice Hockey Federation, and both national teams confirmed the postponement.

“The decision was taken following consultations with medical professionals after cases of norovirus were identified within Team Finland,” the statement read. “It was made collectively and in accordance with established health and safety principles, with the health and well-being of players, team staff, officials, and all tournament participants as the highest priority.”

Among those affected for Finland are goaltender Sanni Ahola, defensemen Karjalainen, Suoranta, and Savolainen, along with forwards Vanhanen, Nylund, Schalin, Vainikka, Vesa, Karvinen, Tulus, Nuutinen, Tapani, and Liikala.

Despite the setback, Lehtera struck a hopeful tone about his group’s resilience. “It might become a strength. I gotta think positive,” he said. “We might be stronger, but we gotta come out of the corner. You never know.”

What’s Next for Canada and Finland

For Team Canada, the delay means their Olympic campaign will now begin Saturday against Switzerland at 3:10 p.m. ET. While not the start they envisioned, it allows the defending powerhouse to ease into the tournament without health concerns.

Finland, meanwhile, gains two extra days to recover ahead of a crucial matchup against Team USA on Saturday, assuming Finland’s roster is cleared and healthy.