Buckeyes Earn Team Canada Olympic Roster Spots
1/9/2026 3:00:00 PM | Women's Ice Hockey
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 2026 Canadian Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team was announced today by USA Hockey, with Sophie Jaques, Jenn Gardiner, Emma Maltais and Natalie Spooner representing Ohio State women's hockey in the XXV Winter Olympiad.
Spooner is the most veteran Buckeye on the Canadian roster, set to play in her fourth Olympics this year. She is a two-time gold medalist and has three medals for her Olympic career. Spooner, an Ohio State Hall of Famer, is the program's record holder for career goals with 100.
Emma Maltais is set to play in her second Olympic games after making her debut on the 2022 gold medal team. Maltais was the WHCA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and went on to become a three-time First Team All-WCHA and two-time Second Team All-WCHA honoree. She is the program's all-time career points leader
Set to make their Olympic debuts in Italy this February are Jenn Gardiner and Sophie Jaques. Both were members of Canada's 2025 world championships roster before earning the spot on the Olympic team.
Jaques is the program's first Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, earning the honor in 2023. She is also the Buckeyes' only top three finalist for the award, which she was named twice in her career. The Toronto, Ont. native is the program record holder for season points and career points by a defenseman and was the WCHA Player of the Year in 2022 and Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Gardiner finished her career as one of the most decorated players in program history. She is one of two Buckeyes who are two-time national champions, WCHA Final Faceoff champions and WCHA regular season champions. Gardiner skated in a program record 176 games as a Buckeye and was a two-time All-WCHA team member.
All four players were All-Americans and Patty Kazmaier Top 10 finalists during their Ohio State careers.
Ohio State women's hockey currently has eight current and former players set to represent their respective countries in Milan this February. In addition to the quartet of Canadians, Team USA's roster features three Buckeyes (Joy Dunne, Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka) and Finland (Sanni Vanhanen) and Switzerland (Andrea Braendli) both have one.
Ohio State Women's Hockey at the Olympics
The Ohio State women's hockey team has had a representative at every Olympic Games since women's ice hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998. Since then, 11 Buckeyes have made a total of 21 appearances at the Olympics through the games in 2022.
Women's Ice Hockey at the XXV Olympiad
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 hold its opening ceremonies Feb. 6. Women's ice hockey will be contested Feb. 5-19 at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena and Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan. Preliminary rounds will be held Feb. 5-10 before quarterfinal playoffs and semifinals are contested Feb. 13-14 and Feb. 16, respectively. Medal games will be contested Feb. 19.
For more information on game schedule and matchups, visit: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule/iho.
Spooner is the most veteran Buckeye on the Canadian roster, set to play in her fourth Olympics this year. She is a two-time gold medalist and has three medals for her Olympic career. Spooner, an Ohio State Hall of Famer, is the program's record holder for career goals with 100.
Emma Maltais is set to play in her second Olympic games after making her debut on the 2022 gold medal team. Maltais was the WHCA Rookie of the Year in 2018 and went on to become a three-time First Team All-WCHA and two-time Second Team All-WCHA honoree. She is the program's all-time career points leader
Set to make their Olympic debuts in Italy this February are Jenn Gardiner and Sophie Jaques. Both were members of Canada's 2025 world championships roster before earning the spot on the Olympic team.
Jaques is the program's first Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, earning the honor in 2023. She is also the Buckeyes' only top three finalist for the award, which she was named twice in her career. The Toronto, Ont. native is the program record holder for season points and career points by a defenseman and was the WCHA Player of the Year in 2022 and Defender of the Year in 2022 and 2023.
Gardiner finished her career as one of the most decorated players in program history. She is one of two Buckeyes who are two-time national champions, WCHA Final Faceoff champions and WCHA regular season champions. Gardiner skated in a program record 176 games as a Buckeye and was a two-time All-WCHA team member.
All four players were All-Americans and Patty Kazmaier Top 10 finalists during their Ohio State careers.
Ohio State women's hockey currently has eight current and former players set to represent their respective countries in Milan this February. In addition to the quartet of Canadians, Team USA's roster features three Buckeyes (Joy Dunne, Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka) and Finland (Sanni Vanhanen) and Switzerland (Andrea Braendli) both have one.
Ohio State Women's Hockey at the Olympics
The Ohio State women's hockey team has had a representative at every Olympic Games since women's ice hockey became an Olympic sport in 1998. Since then, 11 Buckeyes have made a total of 21 appearances at the Olympics through the games in 2022.
Women's Ice Hockey at the XXV Olympiad
The Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 hold its opening ceremonies Feb. 6. Women's ice hockey will be contested Feb. 5-19 at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena and Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan. Preliminary rounds will be held Feb. 5-10 before quarterfinal playoffs and semifinals are contested Feb. 13-14 and Feb. 16, respectively. Medal games will be contested Feb. 19.
For more information on game schedule and matchups, visit: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule/iho.
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