Picking Canada’s all-century women’s hockey lineup

The Canadian women’s hockey team has had a remarkable run over the last 25 years, with four straight gold medals at the Olympics. This historic achievement started with their first gold in Salt Lake City in 2002, a moment that changed the course of women’s hockey in Canada.

In the six Olympic women’s hockey finals Canada has reached in the last 25 years, they have emerged victorious five times. The only loss came in a heartbreaking shootout to the United States in Pyeongchang in 2018. Despite this setback, the Canadian women’s team has been dominant on the world stage, with memorable victories on home ice in Vancouver, in Italy in 2006, and in Russia in 2014.

One player who stands out among the best Canadian women to wear the maple leaf at the Olympics is Marie-Philip Poulin. Known as Captain Clutch, Poulin has scored more Olympic gold-medal winning goals than anyone else, male or female. Her leadership on and off the ice has been instrumental in Canada’s success, including scoring the game-winning goal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and the overtime winner in the 2014 Sochi Olympics.

Joining Poulin in the all-century lineup are legendary players like Hayley Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford. Wickenheiser, a Hockey Hall of Famer, has the most points in a Canadian jersey of any woman. Hefford, also inducted into the Hall of Fame, has four Olympic gold medals to her name and scored a memorable game-winner in 2002.

On defense, Jocelyne Larocque and Becky Kellar have been stalwarts for Team Canada, with Larocque winning two Olympic gold medals and Kellar anchoring the blue line for three straight gold medals from 2002 to 2010. In goal, Kim St-Pierre gets the nod as the all-world goaltender who backstopped Canada to a historic gold in 2002 and won three Olympic gold medals.

While there are honorable mentions for other deserving players like Caroline Ouellette and Claire Thompson, the all-century lineup of the best Canadian women’s players of the last 25 years is a testament to the talent and dedication of these incredible athletes. Their contributions to the sport have inspired a new generation of young players and cemented their place in Canadian hockey history.