The women’s Olympic hockey schedule hit a brief pause yesterday, as Team Canada’s game was postponed due to illness within the Finnish squad. It’s a frustrating hiccup, especially for a Canadian team eager to keep building momentum on the international stage.
But according to GM Gina Kingsbury, there’s no concern within the Canadian locker room-none of the players are sick, and the team remains fully committed to staying in the Olympic Village. As Kingsbury put it, they’re trusting the IIHF and IOC to handle safety protocols and keep the environment secure for all athletes.
Despite the delay, Olympic action is still rolling this morning with a handful of early events and women’s hockey preliminary games before the spotlight shifts to the Opening Ceremonies at 2 p.m. local time. From there, the Games officially kick off, and we’ll start to see the intensity ramp up across the board.
Back home, NHL teams are navigating the Olympic break in their own way. While players can still be reassigned to the AHL, waiver rules are in effect-meaning that if a player requires waivers, they don’t have to report until February 17.
Essentially, this prevents teams from offloading their entire depth chart just to stash players in the minors during the break. There was a flurry of AHL assignments yesterday, but the Maple Leafs stayed quiet on that front.
In other major news, top NHL prospect Gavin McKenna is facing serious allegations following an arrest. A police affidavit states that McKenna was allegedly caught on video punching a man twice in the face, resulting in a fractured jaw that required surgical wiring. The incident has cast a shadow over the young prospect’s future, and while the legal process will play out in due time, it’s a troubling development for a player once viewed as a potential face of the league.
Meanwhile, there’s been a key roster update for Canada’s men’s Olympic hockey team: Seth Jarvis has been added to the squad, replacing Brayden Point. It’s a big opportunity for Jarvis, who now gets the chance to represent his country on one of the biggest stages in sports. For Canada, it’s about adjusting on the fly-something every team will have to do over the course of a long tournament.
With the Opening Ceremonies just hours away, the Games are officially here. And whether it’s on the ice, in the village, or back in NHL front offices, the storylines are already heating up.