After a crucial day of team competitions Friday, Day 8 of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics Saturday ended with several medal opportunities squandered for Canada.
There was disappointment from the very start as Rachel Homan’s women’s team dropped an early contest to Great Britain. The pressure mounted after she fell to Switzerland for her third straight defeat. And a day after the curling controversy seen around the world, Brad Jacobs’ Canadian rink fell to the Swiss men’s curling team.
Big medal hopes to wrap up the day were crushed as Canadian short-track stars William Dandjinou and Steven Dubois both failed to make the podium in the men’s 1,500-metre event. Dandjinou was the clear favourite as the reigning World No. 1 in the category.
Sandwiching the disappointment was some positive results. Another Speed skater Laurent Dubreuil briefly set a new Olympic record only to see that get smashed. The effort was still strong enough to win a bronze medal in the men’s 500-metre speed skating event.
Marie Philip-Poulin returned from injury to help power Canada past Germany in the quarterfinals by tying Hayley Wickenheiser for the most goals scored in women’s hockey at the Olympics.
Laurent Dubreuil briefly sets new Olympic record to capture bronze in 500 M
Gold medallist Jordan Stolz of United States, silver medallist Jenning de Boo of Netherlands and bronze medallist Laurent Dubreuil of Canada celebrate on the podium REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
(REUTERS / Reuters)
Canada’s Laurent Dubreuil set a new Olympic record time of 34.26 only to see that record mark quickly get smashed by American Jordan Stolz and Jenning de Boo of the Netherlands. The effort was still strong enough for a bronze medal in the the men’s 500-metre speed skating event Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Stolz won gold in a time of 33.77, while de Boo claimed the silver medal in a time of 33.88. The former Olympic record time was 34.32, set by China’s Gao Tingyu at the 2022 Games.
Anders Johnson was the next-best Canadian finisher, coming in 16th place, while Cédrick Brunet finished 23rd.
These are the 33-year-old Dubreuil’s third Olympic Games and the second career medal he’s collected.
Canadian men’s short-track speed skaters flame out in 1500 M final
Canada’s William Dandjinou competes in the short track speed skating men’s 1500m semi-final at Milano Ice Skating Arena. (Photo by Gabriel BOUYS / AFP via Getty Images)
(GABRIEL BOUYS via Getty Images)
Despite reaching medal-contending Final A of the men’s 1,500-metre short track speed skating event Saturday with relative ease, Canadian short-track stars William Dandjinou and Steven Dubois couldn’t retrieve a medal, finishing the race in fifth and sixth as disaster struck for both of them.
Spending the majority of his race at the top of the pack, top-ranked Dandjinou appeared to make a mistake strategically midway through and then visibly began to tire in the final couple laps. He made it look oh so easy in finishing first in his semifinal skate only to fall way short of expectations in the final.
And in the case of Dubois, he slipped and fell with eight laps to go, killing any chance he might’ve had in the race.
Dutch skater Jens van ‘t Wout won the gold medal, South Korea’s Hwang Dae-heon claimed silver and Roberts Kruzbergs Latvia captured bronze.
This was an extremely disappointing result for a highly-touted Canadian short-track team. Particularly for Dandjinou who came into the event ranked No. 1 in the world at the distance and is the second time he’s been unable to land on the podium when it looked like it was within his grasp.
During Game 6 of the Games, Dandjinou just missed out on a bronze medal in the 500-metre race.
Homan’s Canadian rink stunningly slumps to third straight defeat
Rachel Homan and the Canadian women’s curling team are in deep trouble at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Following a 7-6 defeat to Rebecca Morrison and Team Great Britain earlier in the day, Homan then fell to Alina Pätz and Team Switzerland in extra ends Saturday for a third straight loss and a 1-3 record.
The top four teams advance to the playoff and a shot at a medal. Canada now sits tied for eighth, only ahead of the winless Italians.
This would be a huge disappointment if Homan fails to make the playoff, coming in as World No. 1 in the category.
Homan and her Canadian rink get a day off Sunday and will try to regroup Monday against China at 3:05 a.m. EST/12:05 a.m. PST.
Marie-Philip Poulin ties Hayley Wickenheiser for most Olympic goals as Canada reaches semifinals
Canada vs Germany – Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena, Milan, Italy – February 14, 2026. Canada players celebrate after the match REUTERS/David W Cerny
(REUTERS / Reuters)
Canadian women’s hockey team captain Marie-Philip Poulin scored a power-play marker with less than five minutes remaining to match Hayley Wickenheiser’s record of 18 career goals at the Olympics. Canada advanced to the semifinals with a 5-1 win over Germany.
By scoring, Poulin also joined an elite group of women who have scored in five different Olympic tournaments in Wickenheiser, fellow Canadian Jayna Hefford and American Hilary Knight.
Poulin has been Canada’s national women’s team’s captain since 2015 and is nicknamed ‘Captain Clutch’ because of the three Olympic gold medal-winning goals she’s scored in the past.
She had missed Canada’s last contests with a lower-body injury she sustained during Canada’s 5-1 victory over Czechia on Feb. 9, but returned in time for the start of the playoff. Fans were quite excited to not only see Poulin back in action, but to tie the record, as well.
It didn’t take long for Canada to get on the board against Germany Saturday as Brianne Jenner opened the scoring just 1:40 into the game.
She was joined by Claire Thompson, Sarah Fillier, Blayre Turnbull and Poulin as Canada’s goal scorers.
Franziska Feldmeier scored Germany’s lone goal, shorthanded, late in the third before Poulin potted her record-tying marker.
Emerance Maschmeyer got the start in net for Canada and recorded 10 saves in the win.
Canada will see Switzerland in its semifinal match Monday at 3:10 p.m. EST/12:10 p.m. PST after the Swiss edged Finland 1-0 Saturday.
On the other side of the bracket, it’s Sweden that will face the U.S. in the semifinals. The Swedes defeated Czechia 2-0 in the first quarterfinal. The United States, meanwhile, easily handled hosts Italy 6-0. That semifinal will be played on Monday at 10:40 a.m. EST/ 7:40 a.m. PST.
Canada men’s curling falls to Switzerland a day after profanity-laced controversy
Canada’s Marc Kennedy (left) during the Men’s Curling match against Switzerland at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium, on day eight. (Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
(Andrew Milligan – PA Images via Getty Images)
Brad Jacobs, Marc Kennedy and the Canadian men’s curling team fell to Benoît Schwarz-van Berkel and Team Switzerland 9-5 in just nine ends Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The loss drops the Canadians’ record to 3-1, while Switzerland remains the only undefeated team in the tournament at 4-0.
Schwarz-van Berkel scored early and often, and while Jacobs and Co. did their best to keep up, the Swiss side proved too skilled to match.
The game was blown open with Schwarz-van Berkel’s fourth straight two-score end with hammer in the seventh to make the game 8-4.
Jacobs and Canada entered Saturday’s match under uniquely trying circumstances. Not only was Switzerland playing like the best team in the tournament coming into the game but, because of the incident with Sweden Friday, the Canadians were also under much more scrutiny.
After Canada’s match with Switzerland, Kennedy apologized to the young Canadian curlers who look up to him, understanding his choice of words probably weren’t the best.
“I probably could have handled myself better in the moment,” Kennedy said. “My whole life I’ve been a little bit like that if my integrity gets questioned. … I know I’m a role model for Canadian curlers, so if I apologize at all it’s to the young curlers around the country.”
In obvious connection to what it appeared Kennedy was doing Friday, the governing body for curling, World Curling, released a statement Saturday attempting to clarify what a “proper release” of a stone is.
“A stone must be delivered by using the handle of the stone. Touching the granite at any time during the forward motion is not allowed and considered a touched moving stone which results in the stone being removed from play.”
World Curling also formally reprimanded Kennedy for improper conduct.
While all the noise seen from that incident didn’t outwardly appear to impact Kennedy’s and Canada’s curlers’ play against Switzerland, it’s hard not to think Friday’s incident ended up being a massive distraction and impacted their focus.
The Canadian men’s curling team will look to get back on track Sunday when they take on Xu Xiaoming and China at 1:05 p.m. EST/10:05 a.m. PST.
Men’s hockey team defenceman Josh Morrissey out vs. France Sunday
Josh Morrissey #44 of Team Canada in action against Czechia on day six of the Milano Cortina at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. (Photo by Xavier Laine/Getty Images)
(Xavier Laine via Getty Images)
Canadian men’s hockey team defenceman Josh Morrissey will be out for Team Canada’s game against France Sunday, head coach Jon Cooper told reporters after their 5-1 victory over Switzerland Friday.
Thoughout Sunday, Cooper made a point to say that Morrissey’s Olympic tournament isn’t done, entirely.
The 30-year-old, who left Thursday’s opener against Czechia in the second period with an apparent injury and didn’t return, missed Friday’s contest. Travis Sanheim drew into the lineup in his place as the team’s seventh defenceman Friday, with Shea Theodore moving up to pair with Colton Parayko.
Brad Marchand, now 37, was a healthy scratch Friday. Seth Jarvis took his place at left wing on the Bo Horvat-centred fourth line. It’s likely that Marchand will draw back into the lineup Sunday.
Goalie Jordan Binnington was also given the day off Friday with Logan Thompson getting the start in his place against Switzerland. The only goalie who hasn’t played yet is Darcy Kuemper, so it’s possible he’ll be the man between the pipes to start Sunday’s affair with France.
Canada’s win over Switzerland clinched top spot in Group A. Sunday’s group-phase conclusion with France starts at 10:40 a.m. EST/7:40 a.m. PST.
More Team Canada news on Day 8
Women’s freestyle skiing big air: Canada’s Megan Oldham reached the women’s freestyle skiing big air final with the top score in qualifying, 171.75. Naomi Urness also qualified for the final with a score of 161.25. Skye Clarke and Elena Gaskell unfortunately couldn’t make the cut. The final goes on Monday.
Women’s 3000 M short-track speed skating relay: The Canadian women’s 3,000-metre short-reack speed skating team of Courtney Sarault, Kim Boutin, Florence Brunelle and Danaé Blais reached Final A of the event Saturday. They’ll go for a medal on Wednesday.
Women’s speed skating team pursuit: The Canadian team of Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann posted the fastest time in the women’s team pursuit speed skating quarterfinals event Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Recording a 2:55.03, the Canadian trio will look to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s semifinals and finals.
Women’s 1000 M short-track speed skating: The Canadian trio of Courtney Sarault, Kim Boutin and Florence Brunelle all qualified for the quarterfinals of the women’s 1,000-metre short track speed skating event. The quarters are schedule to run on Monday.
Women’s dual moguls: Canadians Maïa Schwinghammer, Jessica Linton and Ashley Koehler all failed to make it out of the 1/8 finals of the women’s dual moguls, a brand new event making its Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games Saturday. Australia’s Jakara Anthony took the gold, while Americans Jaelin Kauf and Elizabeth Lemley claimed the silver and bronze medals.
Women’s 4 x 7.5 KM cross-country skiing relay: Canada’s women’s 4 x 7.5-kilometre relay team of Alison Mackie, Jasmine Drolet, Liliane Gagnon and Sonjaa Schmidt finished eighth Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Norway claimed the gold medal, the silver went to Sweden and Finland won the bronze.
Women’s 7.5 KM sprint biathlon: Finishing 56th in the women’s 7.5-kilometre biathlon sprint Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Benita Peiffer was Canada’s top finisher. Nadia Moser, Pascale Paradis and Shilo Rousseau finished 61st, 67th and 80th, respectively. The gold medal went to Norway’s Maren Kirkeeide, while France’s Océane Michelon and Lou Jeanmonnot captured the silver and bronze medals.
Women’s skeleton: Canada’s Jane Channell and Hallie Clarke finished the women’s skeleton event Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in 18th and 19th, respectively. Austria’s Janine Flock captured the gold medal, while Germans Susanne Kreher and Jacqueline Pfeifer laid claim to the silver and bronze medals.
Men’s large hill individual ski jumping: Lone Canadian competitor Mackenzie Boyd-Clowes failed to qualify for the final of the men’s large hill individual ski jumping event Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Slovenia’s Domen Prevc won the gold medal, the silver went to Ren Nikaido of Japan and Poland’s Kacper Tomasiak earned the bronze.