Today in Olympic History: February 14
Canada wins debut in Calgary, Apps scores hat trick and Carter ties record
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February 14, 2026
Previous days: Feb. 6 (https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-6-2026-oly) | Feb. 7 (https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-7-2026-oly) | Feb. 8 (https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-8-2026-oly) | Feb. 9 (https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-9-2026-oly) | Feb. 10 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-10-2026-oly) |Feb. 11 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-11-2026-oly) |Feb. 12 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-12-2026-oly) |Feb. 13 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-13-2026-oly)
1988 – CANADA 1, POLAND 0
In Canada’s first Olympic game ever on home soil, the team narrowly defeated Poland 1-0.
Marc Habscheid scored the only goal of the game four minutes into the first period. Gord Sherven and Trent Yawney picked up the assists.
Canada outshot Poland 29-17, and Andy Moog earned the win in his Olympic debut.
Those watching the Games expected Canada would dominate Poland – it had won the previous six Olympic meetings by a combined score of 58-2 – but recent history told the players otherwise. The teams had played a pair of exhibition games in Poland two years earlier, with Canada winning one and the other ending in a tie.
“We understood that it wasn’t going to be a walkover, but unfortunately that’s not what the press and the expectations were from the general public,” says Sherven. “We knew that it would be a relatively tight game.”
Poland’s game plan was all about defense. “They played five men back,” remembers Sherven. “They would block the line with men across and the D moving into the zone. A lot of time we were forced to dump and chase.”
This led to the first – and only – goal of the game.
Polish goalie, Gabriel Samolei – the team’s backup tender – misplayed the puck behind the net. Sherven beat the defenseman to the play, picked up the puck before Samolei could retreat to his crease and fed Habscheid out front.
“I heard [Habscheid] yell and I knew the goalie was out of position,” says Sherven. “I just backhanded it in front and he had a wide open net.”
Sherven says the players knew how special it was to be a part of Canada’s first Olympic hockey game on home soil. He can still see his friend’s dad – a normally reserved man – crawling up the glass of the Saddledome to wish him luck. “That’s what I remember, how people reacted.”
Other Games
1936 – Canada recorded its third of four shutouts in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, defeating the United States 1-0 and improving its record to 6-1.
1980 – Canada got goals from five different players – Stelio Zupanich, Tim Watters, Ken Berry, John Devaney and Kevin Primeau – and defeated Poland 5-1. Neither team took a penalty in the game.
1992 – Canada scored three of its team-record nine power play goals of the tournament as it defeated Czechoslovakia 5-1. Joe Juneau and Dave Archibald led the way with an even strength and power play goal each.
1998 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/men/olympics/1998/schedule/game-summaries/feb-14-can-swe) – Rob Blake capped off a three-goal second period for Canada, scoring with only seven seconds left in the middle frame as the team defeated Sweden 3-2. Joe Nieuwendyk had a goal and two assists in the victory.
1998 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/olympics/1998/schedule-results/feb-14-can-usa) – Lori Dupuis, Jayna Hefford and Thérèse Brisson scored in the opening six minutes of the third period to give Canada a 4-1 lead over the United States. However, the Americans responded with six unanswered goals to win the preliminary round finale, 7-4.
2006 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/team-canada/women/olympics/2006/schedule-results/feb-14-can-swe) – Canada outshot Sweden 47-8 and wrapped up first place in its group with an 8-1 win. Gillian Apps netted a hat trick, Danielle Goyette scored twice and Hayley Wickenheiser added a goal and two assists to lead the Canadian offense.
2014 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/team-canada/men/olympics/2014/stats/game-summary/598) – Jeff Carter became the first Canadian since 1956 to score a hat trick in one period and Patrick Marleau set up all three to lead Canada in a 6-0 win over Austria. Roberto Luongo made 23 saves in his lone Sochi start to earn his seventh career Olympic win and pull even with Murray Dowey and Martin Brodeur for the most wins ever by a Canadian goaltender.
2022 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/team-canada/women/olympics/2022/stats/game-summary/3426) – Canada punched its ticket to the gold medal game for the seventh time in as many Olympic women’s hockey tournaments with a 10-3 semifinal win over Switzerland. Marie-Philip Poulin netted a pair of goals, Sarah Nurse had four more assists and Claire Thompson contributed a goal and two helpers as the Canadians scored five times in the first 10:40 and never looked back.
Olympic Preview: Canada vs. France (Men)
Sunday, February 15 | 10:40 a.m. ET | Milan, Italy | Preliminary Round
Jason La Rose
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February 15, 2026
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FRANCE (FEB. 15) (https://cdn.Hockeycanada.ca/Hockey-canada/Team-Canada/Men/Olympics/2026/downloads/2026-olym-game-notes-can-fra-feb-15.pdf)
With its place in the quarterfinals confirmed, Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team closes out the preliminary round Sunday at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games with a matchup against France.
Last Game
Canada made it two wins in as many days Friday, downing Switzerland 5-1 . Connor McDavid led the way offensively again, scoring once and adding two assists, as did Nathan MacKinnon. Macklin Celebrini added his second goal in as many games and Logan Thompson was solid in his first start, finishing with 24 saves.
France put a scare into Czechia on Friday, scoring three goals in 4:53 early in the second period to take a 3-2 lead in what would finish as a 6-3 loss to the Czechs . Louis Boudon was the offensive star, scoring twice and adding an assist, and Martin Neckar was terrific in the French goal, making 20 saves before he was replaced early in the third period.
Last Meeting
For the last Olympic meeting between Canada and France, you have to go all the way back 32 years to the day—Feb. 15, 1994. Tood Hlusko did the damage, scoring a pair of goals, and Corey Hirsch needed to make only nine saves to backstop Canada to a 3-1 win in Lillehammer.
Much more recently, the Canadians and French met in preliminary play last spring at the 2025 IIHF World Championship . A trio of Olympians made an impact in that one—Bo Horvat scored a pair of goals, Sidney Crosby got one and Jordan Binnington posted a 15-save shutout as Canada earned a 5-0 victory.
What to Watch
First off, let’s look at the big picture. With top spot in Group A secured, Canada remains firmly in contention for the top overall seed in the preliminary round . That could come down to goal differential, with the Canadians sitting at +9 through two games. So goals are important (not that there’s ever really a time where they aren’t). Speaking of goals, or setting them up, Connor McDavid has been a man on a mission through two games. McDavid became the NHL player to open an Olympic tournament with back-to-back three-point efforts, following up his three assists against Czechia with a goal and two helpers against the Swiss. How productive has the Edmonton Oilers star been? Since Canada returned to Olympic hockey in 1980, his six points would have led Canada in scoring at two Games (1998, 2006), tied him for the lead at another (2014) and put him within one of the team lead at six others (1980, 1984, 1994, 2002, 2018, 2022).
The French have only a single active NHLer—Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier has 17 points (7-10—17) in 30 games with the Habs after starting the season in St. Louis. Three others have NHL experience; Yohann Auvitu, Stéphane DaCosta and Pierre-Édouard Bellemare have combined for 805 games, with 700 belonging to Bellemare. Outside of Texier, the rest of the roster is spread across Europe, with representation from teams in the ICEHL (Austria), Extraliga (Czechia), Liiga (Finland), Ligue Magnus (France), KHL (Russia), Tipsport liga (Slovakia) and National League (Switzerland).
A Look Back
The Canadians and French met at three consecutive Games from 1988 to 1994, with Canada winning all three.
The first meeting was a record-setter as the teams combined for 10 goals in the first period (Canada led 7-3 after 20 minutes). Serge Boisvert scored two of those 10 and added his hat trick marker in the third as the Canadians scored a wild 9-5 win in Calgary.
All-time record: Canada leads 3-0
Canada goals: 15
France goals: 8
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Olympic Preview: Canada vs. Germany (Women)
Saturday, February 14 | 10:40 a.m. ET | Milan, Italy | Quarterfinal
Shannon Coulter
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February 14, 2026
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. GERMANY (FEB. 14) (https://cdn.Hockeycanada.ca/hockey-canada/Team-Canada/Women/Olympics/2026/downloads/2026-olyw-game-notes-can-ger-feb-14.pdf)
The playoff stage of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games is officially underway as Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team faces Germany in the quarterfinals on Saturday.
Last Game
The Canadians wrapped up the preliminary round with a 5-0 shutout of Finland on Thursday. Jenn Gardiner opened the scoring with her first Olympic goal, Emily Clark scored twice, Kristin O’Neill had a goal and an assist and Daryl Watts rounded out the scoring. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 17 saves for her first shutout in Milan.
Germany rallied to beat Italy 2-1 to close its preliminary round on Tuesday. Emily Nix tied the game midway through the second period and Laura Kluge scored the game-winner with 89 seconds left. Sandra Abstreiter made 23 saves for her third win of the tournament.
Last Meeting
Let’s throw it back to 2021 when Canada blanked Germany 7-0 in the quarterfinals of the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Calgary. Natalie Spooner led the offense with two goals and an assist, and Melodie Daoust chipped in with a goal and two helpers. Canada outshot Germany 52-3, with Emerance Maschmeyer recording the shutout.
What to Watch
Keep an eye on Natalie Spooner. The Toronto Sceptres forward has the most career points against the Germans among the Canadian roster, with three goals and four points in two games. Canada’s first-time Olympians have been making an impact on the ice in Milan. Julia Gosling leads the Canadians with three goals and five points, followed by Daryl Watts with two goals and four points. All of Gosling’s goals have come on the power play, which is part of the reason why Canada had the best power play in the preliminary round (five goals on 11 opportunities). Jenn Gardiner recorded her first Olympic goal against Finland. The Surrey, B.C., product has three goals and eight points in 16 games with the Vancouver Goldeneyes this season.
The Germans are back in the women’s tournament at the Olympics for the first time since 2014. Laura Kluge has been leading the offense in Milan. The Boston Fleet forward has three goals, seven points and is plus-six heading into the quarterfinals. The Germans have three players that compete professionally in the PWHL, including Montreal Victoire goaltender Sandra Abstreiter. The 27-year-old has three wins, a 1.99 goals-against average and .918 save percentage so far in Milan. Germany also has a sister connection: twins Luisa and Lilli Welcke, who play for Boston University, are making their Olympic debuts together.
A Look Back
Not much to look back at—Canada and Germany have never faced off in women’s hockey on the Olympic stage.
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Today in Olympic History: February 13
Hefford records six points, Gagner gets five and NHLers debut in Nagano
David Brien
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February 13, 2026
Previous days: Feb. 6 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-6-2026-oly) | Feb. 7 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-7-2026-oly) | Feb. 8 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-8-2026-oly) | Feb. 9 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-9-2026-oly) | Feb. 10 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-10-2026-oly) |Feb. 11 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-11-2026-oly) |Feb. 12 (https://www.Hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/news/today-in-olympic-history-february-12-2026-oly)
2010 – CANADA 18, SLOVAKIA 0
It was Canada’s first Olympic hockey game on Canadian ice in 22 years, the first women’s Olympic game ever in Canada, and it was a moment none of the players will ever forget.
“Walking onto the ice for that very first game was incredible,” says former Team Canada defenceman Carla MacLeod. “The energy was electric, I got full body shivers and I truly couldn't believe I was experiencing that environment. I wish I could’ve had a camera perched on my shoulder and was somehow able to bottle the internal emotion I felt, because I would love for everyone to have that experience.”
The game itself lacked excitement; Jayna Hefford had a hat trick and three assists to lead the offence, while Meghan Agosta chipped in with a hat trick and two assists and MacLeod had two goals and two helpers.
Canada tied its own Olympic record for goals in a period, scoring seven times in the first, and set a record for goals in a game. In all, 11 players had goals, and 17 of the 18 skaters put their name on the scoresheet with at least a point.
For MacLeod, and the rest of Team Canada, it was the first step towards a third Olympic gold.
“Some of our competitors said that playing in your home country
