Canada’s captain Marie-Philip Poulin breaks Olympic women’s hockey scoring record

MILAN — Marie-Philip Poulin’s record-breaking goal at the Olympic Games wasn’t pretty, but it was important to her Canadian team.

The captain’s one-timer hit a Swiss forward and took a couple bounces on its way to becoming her 19th career goal in Olympic women’s hockey.

That surpassed the previous high of 18 held by her former teammate Hayley Wickenheiser.

Poulin scored a second goal in a 2-1 win over Switzerland on Monday that sent Canada to the gold-medal game against the United States at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. 

“I’m pretty lucky to be surrounded by such amazing teammates. I’m very lucky to be part of this group,” Poulin said.

The 34-year-old forward from Beauceville, Que., has scored seven of her goals in four Olympic finals, which makes her the only player — male or female — to score in four finals. Three of them were “golden-goal” game winners.

Her teammates needed her scoring Monday in the tightest game Canada has ever had against Switzerland.

“All the girls were so excited to see her get that record. It doesn’t matter to her, but on this team, we’re so happy for each other when we have that success and everyone’s so happy for Pou because she’s earned it,” Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said.

Poulin was tripped driving the net, but shovelled a rebound by Swiss goaltender Andrea Braendli for her second goal, making it 2-0 for Canada. 

“She is one of the best players in the world, so facing that makes you a little bit nervous sometimes.” said Braendli, who made a heroic 44 saves in the semifinal. 

“It also gives me motivation to be extra challenging for her. Don’t make it easy, but she is incredible.”

Poulin sat out two games in the group stage with a knee injury. She was checked hard into the boards in Canada’s 5-1 win over Czechia.

She returned for Canada’s 5-1 quarterfinal win over Germany and scored her first goal of the tournament — and the 18th of her career — in that game before cementing her place in the Olympic record books in the semifinal.

“Everything that can possibly be said about Poulin has been said,” said Canadian head coach Troy Ryan. “I want to say it’s probably the best part of my entire coaching career, is to have a front-row seat to some of the magic that she’s been able to provide for our team and for the country and sport in general.

“We have a bit of a flat start, we have our conversation in between periods and of course it’s going to be Poulin that takes the lead in those situations.”

Poulin has said she doesn’t care about individual records.

“What makes me wake up in the morning, getting excited to get to that ice to practice is to be surrounded by teammates,” she said. “And it’s more than teammates, it’s now friendship that lasts forever.

“We’ve had weddings and we’re in each other’s parties, and it just means a lot, I think to go through that all together.”

Poulin, Wickenheiser and Jayna Hefford are the only Canadians to have played in five Olympic women’s hockey tournaments. 

Poulin won’t say if Thursday’s final against the United States will be her Olympic swan song.

“I haven’t thought that far yet,” she said. “Honestly, I’m in the present. I want to enjoy this and I’ll give it all.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 16, 2026.