Winter Olympics: five women to watch in ice hockey at Beijing 2022, with Hilary Knight and Marie-Philip Poulin primed for one last Goliath vs Goliath battle for gold
- Women’s ice hockey has long been dominated by two teams, Canada and the US, and don’t expect that to change come Beijing 2022
- Five players, four from the heavyweights, will surely factor into what should be another thrilling final between two teams that have created a rivalry for the ages
While women’s ice hockey at the Winter Olympics has grown in leaps and bounds over the last two decades, since first being introduced in 1998 at Nagano, there has always been two perennial contenders: Canada and the US.
Come February, you can expect a Goliath vs Goliath battle that will have a unique twist, with both heavyweights in the same group for the round robin stage.
Of course, Sweden won silver in 2006 – the only time someone other than the Canucks or the Yankees finished first or second – but don’t expect that to happen this time around. These two went down to the wire to settle things at the last two Olympics, providing fans with two thrilling games back to back, four years apart.
1. Hilary Knight
The four-time Olympian who already has a gold and two silvers on her resume, is probably set for her swan song Olympics at the age of 32. US hockey, and women’s hockey in general, is undergoing a youthful revolution, but we will get one last chance to watch one of the game’s greatest goal scorers of all-time in China.
Knight has been instrumental for the immense growth of women’s hockey since she first played for the national team in 2006 at the age of 17. She has been an excellent ambassador and is a class act, so one would think she will try to go out with a bang at Beijing 2022.
2. Kendall Coyne Schofield
Knight’s teammate Schofield is another great ambassador for the sport.
This will be her third Olympics, and she has tallied nine points (four goals, five assists) in 10 Olympic Games, and 156 points (74 goals, 82 assists) in 155 games for the US.
Schofield is a gritty, salt-of-the-earth player who does it all, and although she is small in height (1.57 metres) she plays big and is incredibly tough on the puck. Schofield will be looked to for leadership on the American team along with Knight, and she’s known for having big games on big stages.
3. Marie-Philip Poulin
The 30-year-old “Captain Canada” is back for what could also be her final Olympic tournament as well, and wants to add another gold to go with the two she already has.
Poulin is similar to Knight – she is a premier goalscorer who can set up as well. She’s been a point producing machine throughout her career and will be Canada’s top clutch threat once again in Beijing.
Poulin will have to match the leadership and performance expectations of Knight as this tournament rolls on, and both will most likely be playing on lines with younger players who have much less experience at the Olympics. This tournament is likely to come down to whoever gels better with their line mates, and who can score that big goal in the gold medal game when it’s needed most.
4. Rebecca Johnston
When it comes to putting the puck in the net, look no further than Johnston. Much like Poulin, she has two golds under her belt, and is the fourth piece to this veteran rivalry along with Knight and Schofield.
These four represent an entire generation of women’s hockey who have produced some of the greatest games at the Olympics ever.
Johnston has been incredibly consistent over her career at both the Olympics and the World Championships, and she will be a key cog in Canada’s forward corps along with its power-play. Once again, this is most likely her last Olympics (she is 32) so expect her to want to go out on top.
5. Anni Keisala
Finland, the third-ranked team according to the International Ice Hockey Federation, is probably the only team who could play spoiler and sneak into the gold medal game, however it is a long shot.
Keisala, who is expected to be the starting goaltender, will have to have the tournament of her life to will the Finns into an upset for the ages, and there is drama around the position already. Veteran Noora Raty, who has more experience than Keisala, was left off the roster for what seems like perplexing reasons given her resume.
Regardless, Keisala, who has shown to be a stellar goalie, will get the opportunity of a lifetime in China. The question is, can she lead a Cinderella squad against two Goliaths?
