Why Canada women's hockey team isn't playing Olympic game vs. Finland with postponement news

The Canada women's hockey team was supposed to start its 2026 Winter Olympics action on Thursday.

Instead, their scheduled game against Finland has been postponed.

It was surprise news for Canadian fans to wake up to. They'd been hoping to watch the defending gold medalists take to the ice for the first time in this new tournament.

They'll have to wait for that chance now.

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Why isn't Canada playing Finland today?

The game was postponed due to illness with the Finnish team.

According to multiple reports out of Milan, the Finland team is dealing with norovirus.

The Athletic's Hailey Salvian reports that 13 Finnish players are quarantined, either because they're sick or because they've been exposed to the sickness.

At pregame skate before a decision was made, Finland had just 10 players on the ice.

Eventually, the IOC decided to postpone the game.

"The decision was taken following consultations with medical professionals after cases of norovirus were identified within Team Finland," the IOC said in a statement.

The game has been moved to Feb. 12.

Also particularly of note here: The United States is scheduled to play Finland on Saturday. It's not yet clear whether that match will take place as scheduled.

Canada will now take the ice for the first time in the tournament on Saturday against Switzerland.

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