Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina: Winter Olympics

[AlbertC]

I suppose we should be happy they are playing sport at all.

In terms of hockey, there are a lot of reasons it is so expensive; ice time rental, particularly in urban areas, equipment costs (does anybody do hand-me-down anymore?) and the nature of organization. There's a lot more inter-league play now, even at 'house league level, and if travel is involved, some parents simply can't afford it. Soccer is a whole lot cheaper and becoming more popular.

When I was kid playing (when the earth was still cooling) I played in the Goulding Park league in Willowdale We got a sweater - what we looked like from the waist down was our problem. We didn't get 'full kit' until rep level and even at that, it was only sweater and socks. Our coach was a dad and a road trip was to the Don Mills arena.

I was chatting with my chiro while she was doing her best to cripple me. She has two kids into serious sport - one hockey - and, being northern Ontario, tournament play usually involves accommodations. She figures she spends about $10k a year.

The high costs and barrier to entry to hockey eventually leads to the US having an advantage over time. Just due to having a higher population overall, and inevitably meaning more families with money to put their children into hockey. And it's no secret that the NHL have prioritized growing the game in the States, especially in what used to be untraditional markets.

There's also a gradual brain drain effect with Canadian players who play and settle down in the US during their playing days and perhaps starting families down there. Not to mention coaches or other player development personnel. A fair amount of good American players have a Canadian connection as shown in his discussion on Reddit: Here

The American NCAA college system has grown in prestige within the last decade or so, with even certain Canadian prospects opting to develop there. Fortunately it doesn't necessarily mean the players are jumping ship to play for the Americans. But it does show that they're getting better at development in NHL ready talent.

 

[AlbertC]

Gold medals in back to back days: Megan Oldham in Big Air freestyle skiing, and then the women's team pursuit speed skating today!

 

[txlseries4]

Huge win for Canada’s women’s curling team this morning over Sweden who had been undefeated. Canada is now 4 wins in a row after a rocky patch of 3 straight losses by 1 point each time

 

[Monarch Butterfly]

Canadian speed skater overcame unique obstacles to win silver at Olympics​

From https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/canadian-speed-skater-unique-obstacles-olympics

When things don’t go your way, four years is a gruelling amount of time to wait for redemption.

Just ask Canadian speed skater Florence Brunelle.

The Trois-Rivières, Quebec native was the youngest-ever short-track speedskater to make the Canadian Olympic team back in 2022.

However, her Olympic debut four years ago turned into something of a nightmare.

Brunelle’s skates clipped an opponent during a race. Both skaters crashed into the wall.

Not only that, but Brunelle was penalized on the play, pushing her team two spots down the standings. They finished sixth overall at the event.

“I’ve accomplished my dream, and I feel unhappy, so why would I pursue what I’m pursuing?” she said in 2018.

“I’ve lost my purpose.”

Well, on Tuesday, Brunelle got redemption.

Brunelle was one of six Canadian speed skaters who participated in the short track mixed relay, where Canada came home with a silver medal.

Looks like Brunelle found her purpose.

Not only did Brunelle exact revenge by helping her country win a silver medal, but she overcame a unique personal hurdle as well.

Brunelle was born without three fingers on her left hand, something she revealed to the television cameras before the medal ceremony on Tuesday.

She appears to be the only Olympic speed skater ever to compete, nevermind win a medal, while missing fingers on a hand.