.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
Olympic women's hockey gets underway on Thursday, but only two teams are set to take the ice.
A scheduled matchup between Canada and Finland was postponed on Thursday, leaving a battle between the United States and Czechia as the only game on the day's women's hockey slate.
Before the game was postponed, tough circumstances forced Finland to consider forfeiting. Instead, the game will be pushed back to the other end of the preliminary round schedule before the bracketed portion of the women's hockey tournament begins.
Here's what you need to know about the status of the game between Canada and Finland, including why it was postponed.
MORE: Viewer's guide to 2026 Winter Olympics
Canada vs. Finland Olympic women's hockey updates
A stomach virus impacting Finland's players forced the postponement of Thursday's game. The game will be made up on Feb. 12 at 8:30 a.m. ET.
Olympic officials released a statement Thursday calling the postponement a "responsible and necessary decision."
"All stakeholders thank teams, partners and fans for their cooperation and understanding, and look forward to the rescheduled game being played under safe and appropriate conditions," the statement added.
The rescheduled game will be played two days after the group stage of play was set to end. All other teams will wrap up the preliminary round on Feb. 10 and receive either two or three off days before the start of the quarterfinals if they qualify. Canada and Finland will instead play one day before the start of the quarterfinals, though two quarterfinal games will be played on Feb. 14.
Here's what you need to know about the illness affecting Finland's roster.
MORE: Tracking Olympic women's hockey standings, scores
Finland Olympic women's hockey Norovirus updates
Finland's practice ahead of Thursday's scheduled opener included only eight skaters and two goaltenders, a number the team didn't feel comfortable with in a game.
13 players are either sick or in isolation to avoid potentially spreading the virus to others. While Finland coach Tero Lehtera says his players' health is improving, those who were sick aren't yet ready to play.
"Most of them are getting better but not healthy enough to play. And there's the chance that if we would play it could influence Team Canada and their health as well," Lehterä said Thursday, "But I couldn't risk my players if they were ill yesterday to play tonight because that would be wrong against the individual."
Between the concerns about Finland's limited player availability and the possibility of spreading the virus to Canadian players, as Lehtera noted, the game was pushed back a week despite a limited window to play during the 15-day sprint to the podium at the Winter Olympics.
MORE: When does men's hockey start at the Olympics?
What time is Canada vs. Finland today?
Canada and Finland won't play today, as the game was postponed due to a stomach virus impacting Finland's players.
The game will be made up on Feb. 12 at 8:30 a.m. ET, two days after each team was set to finish up group play. United States vs. Czechia is the only remaining women's hockey game on Thursday's schedule, starting at 10:40 a.m. ET.
Canada Olympic women's hockey schedule
Here's an updated look at the schedule for Canada women's hockey at the Winter Olympics, with the opener set for Saturday against Switzerland:
Saturday, Feb. 7
| 3:10 p.m. | Women's Group A: Canada vs. Switzerland |
Monday, Feb. 9
| 3:10 p.m. | Women's Group A: Canada vs. Czechia |
Tuesday, Feb. 10
| 2:10 p.m. | Women's Group A: Canada vs. USA |
Thursday, Feb. 12
| 8:30 a.m. | Women's Group A: Canada vs. Finland |
Friday, Feb. 13
| 10:40 a.m. | Women's Quarterfinal |
| 3:10 p.m. | Women's Quarterfinal |
Saturday, Feb. 14
| 10:40 a.m. | Women's Quarterfinal |
| 3:10 p.m. | Women's Quarterfinal |
Monday, Feb. 16
| 10:40 a.m. | Women's Semifinal |
| 3:10 p.m. | Women's Semifinal |
Thursday, Feb. 19
| 8:40 a.m. | Women's Bronze Medal Game |
| 1:10 p.m. | Women's Gold Medal Game |
English (US)