U. S. Women Crush Canada in Olympic Preliminaries

The U. S. women's hockey squad dominated Canada with a 5‑0 win in the first round of the Winter Games. Coach John Wroblewski told his players that a victory is only part of the climb, hinting at the long road ahead to gold. The match was a showcase for the Americans’ power, who have already won all four opening games with a combined 20‑1 score. Canada entered the game missing star forward Marie‑Philip Poulin, who was injured in a prior win over Czechia. Without her leadership the Canadians struggled with puck control and made many careless errors, according to coach Troy Ryan. Ryan said Poulin would be evaluated after the next game and hoped she could return for the quarter‑finals. The U. S. lineup was a mix of seasoned players and fresh college talent. Caroline Harvey, still in school, added a goal and two assists, while teammate Laila Edwards scored her first Olympic point. Abbey Murphy of Minnesota set up three goals, showing the depth behind the offense.Goalie Aerin Frankel stopped 20 shots and earned her first Olympic shutout. Captain Hilary Knight added an assist, bringing her career total to 32 points and tying the record for most by a U. S. women's player. Both praised their teammates’ energy and said playing together made the job easier. The arena buzzed with Canadian fans, but the U. S. team’s rapid plays and sharp shooting turned the game into a one‑way affair. Defender Kirsten Simms capped the scoreline with a hard‑hitting goal, and the Americans left no doubt they were in control. Despite the win, U. S. players remain cautious about claiming gold until the final match on February 19. Canada’s loss is a reminder that even dominant teams can falter when key players are sidelined. The Canadian squad has now lost seven consecutive games to the U. S. , a streak that began in last year’s world championships. Assistant captain Blayre Turnbull said the team will learn from these mistakes and aim to improve moving forward.