It’s a frigid day in Toronto, with temperatures plunging to -20°C and the wind chill making it feel even colder. But if you're staying indoors, you're in luck - there’s no shortage of sports action to keep you warm. From Olympic showdowns to marquee matchups on the ice, Sunday’s shaping up to be a full slate for fans across the board.
Let’s start with the big story in Canadian hockey: the women’s national team officially kicked off their Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic campaign, and they did it in dominant fashion, blanking Switzerland 4-0 in their tournament debut.
Now, the scoreline might not scream blowout, but don’t let that fool you - this was a lopsided affair from puck drop to final whistle. Canada outshot the Swiss 55-6, a staggering stat that tells the real story.
Swiss netminder Saskia Maurer deserves serious credit here. She faced a barrage of pucks and turned away 51 of them, putting in a gutsy performance that kept things from getting completely out of hand.
As for Canada, it was Toronto’s own Natalie Spooner - affectionately known as “Big Spoon” - who got the scoring started. Spooner found the back of the net to give Canada the early lead and set the tone for what would become a statement win.
From there, Canada’s power play took over. The special teams unit looked sharp and efficient, moving the puck with confidence and capitalizing on their chances. Veteran forward Erin Ambrose quarterbacked the unit with poise, and the team’s puck movement created open lanes and high-danger looks.
Then came a milestone moment - Danielle Gosling notched her first-ever Olympic goal, a highlight-reel tally that brought the bench to its feet. It’s the kind of moment young players dream about, and for Gosling, it was a reward for the hard work she’s put in to reach this level.
The scoring wrapped up with another first-time Olympic goal scorer: Sarah Watts, also of the Toronto Sceptres. Watts buried a clean finish to seal the win and give Canada a strong start in Group A play.
Next up for Team Canada: a Monday matchup against Czechia, followed by a marquee showdown on Tuesday against Team USA. That Canada-USA rivalry always delivers, and with both teams eyeing gold, expect playoff-level intensity in that one.
Meanwhile, back on home ice, the Toronto Marlies wrapped up their final game before the AHL All-Star Classic with a commanding 5-1 win over the Springfield Thunderbirds, the affiliate of the St. Louis Blues. And if you were hoping for a little old-school hockey chaos, this one delivered - with three fights breaking out in the first 15 seconds of game time.
It was a physical, fiery start, but once the gloves were picked up and the dust settled, the Marlies took control. Luke Haymes added to the score sheet with a slick tip-in goal, extending the lead and putting an exclamation point on the win. The Marlies showed composure after the early fireworks and executed well in all three zones.
As the All-Star break arrives, the Marlies head in with momentum, and Haymes continues to be a player to watch in Toronto’s development pipeline.
So whether you’re tuning into the Olympics, catching some AHL action, or just waiting for the Super Bowl pregame marathon to wrap up, there’s plenty to keep you entertained. Stay warm out there - maybe with a hearty bowl of pasta - and enjoy a packed Sunday of sports.