If Marie-Philip Poulin is a leader by example, then good luck to all of her disciples — at least on the ice.
Poulin scored her 100th and 101st career goals in Canada’s 5-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday at worlds, becoming the fourth Canadian to reach triple digits. The other three — Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Danielle Goyette — are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Poulin scores twice including 100th career goal, Canada dominates Czech Republic
Marie-Philip Poulin became the fourth player to reach the century mark in career goals with the Canadian women’s team.
It’s just the latest accomplishment for Poulin in a career so full of them she’s been nicknamed Captain Clutch.
She’s scored in four consecutive Olympic finals, leading to three gold medals. She’s associated with perhaps the most famous goals in team history, notching both the game-tying and game-winning markers at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Her legacy as a hockey player is as embedded as the lucky loonie in Vancouver was at centre ice.
“She means everything to our group,” said Blayre Turnbull, who collected the primary assist on No. 100. “I think she’s the perfect example of someone who leads by example day in and day out, on and off the ice, and we’re so lucky to have her as our captain.”
Turnbull, Renata Fast and Jaime Bourbonnais also scored for Canada. Natalie Mlynkova responded for the Czechs, who fell to 1-1 with the loss.
Earlier Friday, the U.S. (2-0) topped Switzerland (0-2) 9-1, while Finland (2-0) blanked Germany (1-1) 3-0.
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The truest definition of a superstar
For as great as Poulin is, it’s a shame that these days, Canadian fans only get to see their superstar play hockey at the highest level once a year, either at worlds or the Olympics.
And she is the truest definition of a superstar.
When the lineup was announced pre-game at the CAA Centre, the loudest cheer was reserved for Poulin. Soon after, a young fan begged Poulin for a puck in warmups, and the captain obliged.
Mission: Get a puck from <a href=”https://twitter.com/pou29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@pou29</a> ✅ <a href=”https://twitter.com/HockeyCanada?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@HockeyCanada</a> <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensWorlds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WomensWorlds</a> <a href=”https://t.co/7szceDNYzJ”>pic.twitter.com/7szceDNYzJ</a>
Outside of international events, Poulin hasn’t played a meaningful hockey game since 2019, the final year of the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
Poulin is a member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association, a union formed from the ashes of the CWHL.
‘We have a role in pushing women’s hockey’
The Beauceville, Que., native is now 32, meaning she’ll have lost four years of her athletic prime. She said there is a responsibility to push the pro game forward.
“I think we’re all aware that everyone that’s in women’s hockey, we have a role in pushing women’s hockey,” Poulin said.
“But … the group I’ve been around for the last couple years, they’re all the best and for me I’m just trying to follow them. … When you surround yourself with strong people, it makes it easy to look good.”
There are reports the PWHPA will begin a formal pro league in the fall, after holding out four years in search of sustainability — salaries that don’t require players to hold second jobs, proper facilities and support staff for pro athletes and more.
The burden to lead that league, fairly or not, will fall onto Poulin’s shoulders more than others. It’s just part of the deal when you wear the “C” for Canada for so long.
“The more she pushes, the more we all want to push too, so she’s leading the way for all of us and we’re following along,” Turnbull said.
Undeniable skill
Sarah Nurse, a PWHPA board member, told CBC Sports the future of the sport will be reliant on its talent.
“I think that obviously the skill on the ice is something that you know can’t be disputed and so now it’s just putting that infrastructure together so that we can showcase it on a regular basis.”
Poulin’s skill — evident in her 100th goal, in which Turnbull said she “deked the pants off” the Czech goalie after a pass on a 2-on-0 — is near unmatched in the history of the sport.
Go inside the dressing room as <a href=”https://twitter.com/pou29?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@pou29</a> is honoured for ???? Team Canada goals. ????<br><br>Entrez dans le vestiaire et voyez l’hommage à Marie-Philip pour son ????e but avec Équipe Canada. ????<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensWorlds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WomensWorlds</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/MondialF%C3%A9minin?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#MondialFéminin</a> <a href=”https://t.co/7w7DkEUCfh”>pic.twitter.com/7w7DkEUCfh</a>
“She’s gonna be remembered as the best woman to ever play the game and possibly the best person to ever play the game, man or woman,” Turnbull said.
“I think she’s one of the best leaders that is in sport and possibly elsewhere. She’s a very caring and supportive teammate and what makes her so special is she truly cares about every person she’s on a team with.”
According to Canada head coach Troy Ryan, the sport is in good hands with Poulin.
“The person she is, the character she brings, the player she is and the skill. Everything you want in a leader, she has it.”
Poulin making impact in NHL
In the intermediate time without a pro league, Poulin has helped blaze trails for women in the NHL, joining the Montreal Canadiens as a player consultant.
“I think that’s the best thing that’s come out over the last few years,” Nurse said of Poulin’s gig and a similar role for forward Rebecca Johnston with the Calgary Flames. “There’s so many opportunities and obviously they’re recognizing the value that [women] can bring to organizations like an NHL hockey club.”
Poulin scored her first goal for Team Canada in September 2007 in a win over Sweden in Prince George, B.C.
Wickenheiser is the team’s all-time leader with 168 goals. Poulin, barring injury, could potentially threaten that mark.
Unsurprisingly, Poulin said she hasn’t thought much about her legacy.
“I think just how passionate I am about the game and every time I’m able to make a difference, bring people together, the way I work is something I take a lot of pride in and people are going to see that and how much joy hockey brings me,” Poulin said.
If everything goes according to plan on the professional side, that joy will be permeated even more moving forward.
Canada returns to the ice Saturday for a tilt against Japan before wrapping group play on Monday against the Americans. Both games are at 7 p.m. ET.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
