Poulin’s Return Against Germany Uncertain: “We’ll See”
The Canadian women’s hockey team is facing a crucial quarter-final match against Germany. A key development has emerged regarding team captain Marie-Philip Poulin. After suffering a lower body injury in the second match against the Czech Republic, Poulin returned to team practice, donning a regular jersey.
Poulin’s Condition Under Evaluation
Despite returning to the ice, Poulin’s status remains uncertain. The Canadian medical team will assess her condition daily to determine if she can play this Saturday against Germany. When asked about her potential return, Poulin remarked, “We’ll see.”
Recent Team Performance
Poulin’s absence has impacted the team during the tournament. Canada faced a 5-0 defeat to the United States without her and managed to bounce back with a 5-0 victory over Finland. Canada’s head coach, Troy Ryan, expressed optimism regarding Poulin’s potential participation in the upcoming match.
- Defeat against the United States: 0-5
- Victory against Finland: 5-0
Ryan noted, “Everything I’ve heard is that she was positive, felt good, and the doctors were satisfied.” The decision now lies largely in the hands of Poulin, who must evaluate her readiness for competition.
Poulin’s Olympic Legacy
This marks Poulin’s fifth Olympic Games. She has an impressive track record, having secured three gold medals and one silver during her Olympic career. In 24 Olympic matches, she has contributed 17 goals and provided 19 assists.
Current Training Roster
The team has organized training lines, which include:
- Forward Line:
- Watts – Poulin – Fillier
- Clark – Turnbull
- Stacey – Maltais – Nurse – Jenner
- Gosling – O’Neill – Gardiner
- Defense:
- LaRoque – Fast
- Shelton – Ambrose
- Thompson – Jacque
- Tabin
- Goalkeepers:
- Desbiens
- Maschmeyer
- Osborne
The upcoming match will be pivotal for Canada. Fans and analysts alike will closely monitor Poulin’s recovery and readiness as the team prepares for the quarter-finals against Germany.
