Team Canada Flexes Its Muscle in 10-2 Rout Over France to Close Out Preliminary Round
Canada didn’t just finish the preliminary round at the 2026 Winter Olympics - they put an exclamation point on it.
With a 10-2 dismantling of France at the Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena on Saturday, Jon Cooper’s squad wrapped up Group A play in dominant fashion. The win comes just a day after a convincing 5-1 victory over Switzerland, which had already locked up Canada’s spot atop the group and into the quarterfinals. But if you thought they’d take their foot off the gas with seeding secured, think again.
This was a statement game. And the message was loud and clear: Canada is here to win gold.
A Deep Lineup That Keeps Coming
What stood out most in this one - aside from the sheer volume of goals - was the depth of Canada’s offense. Seven different players found the back of the net, and the scoring came from all over the lineup.
Tom Wilson opened the floodgates midway through the first period, finishing off a setup from Drew Doughty and Connor McDavid. France answered quickly with a goal from Hugo Douay, but Canada responded with a flurry. Jonathan Toews, Mark Stone (on a shorthanded breakaway with just four seconds left in the period), and Cale Makar (on the power play) all scored to push the lead out of reach.
Macklin Celebrini added a penalty shot goal - a beauty, unassisted - and Sidney Crosby got on the board just seconds later. By the time McDavid notched his own goal early in the third, assisted by Celebrini and Wilson, the scoreboard was starting to look more like a football score.
Bo Horvat and Sam Reinhart connected late to make it 8-2, and Canada tacked on two more for good measure.
Quiet Night for Suzuki and Texier
Nick Suzuki and Alexandre Texier didn’t make it onto the scoresheet, but they were still active in their respective roles. Suzuki logged just under 14 minutes of ice time and registered three shots on goal. After centering a line against Switzerland the night before, he shifted back to the wing for this one.
Texier, meanwhile, saw nearly 18 minutes of action for France. While he didn’t register a point, he remained a key presence on the ice for the French side, which simply couldn’t match Canada’s firepower.
Looking Ahead
With the preliminary round now in the books, the focus shifts to the knockout stage. The qualification round is set for February 17, followed by the quarterfinals on February 18 - where Canada will rejoin the action.
For the four Montreal Canadiens players participating in the tournament - including Suzuki - the intensity is only going to ramp up from here. Canada’s depth, speed, and experience were on full display against France, and if they can maintain this level of play, they’ll be a tough out for anyone in the medal rounds.
This team has all the tools. Now it’s about execution when it matters most.