Marie-Philip Poulin Q&A: Olympic star talks Canada-U.S. rivalry, growth of women's game

TORONTO - Marie-Philip Poulin knows the United States has had Canada's number in women's hockey this year, but that isn't stopping her from looking at the bigger picture.

The two-time Olympic gold medalist for Canada wants to win her third consecutive gold at the Pyeongchang Games in February, but she acknowledged it won't be easy.

The U.S. women's national hockey team defeated Canada to win the World Championship in Michigan in the spring, then beat the Canadians to capture the Four Nations Cup in Tampa, Fla. last weekend.

Poulin excelled in her first two Olympic tournaments, scoring both goals in Canada's gold medal victory over the U.S. in 2010, and potting both the tying and winning goals in the gold medal game in 2014.

The 26-year-old standout sat down with theScore at a promotional event for Tide on Wednesday to discuss how she approaches high-pressure situations, whether the United States' recent success against Canada means anything heading into the 2018 Olympics, and how women's hockey is growing at both the international and league levels.

Gold-Smith: You clearly have a knack for coming through in big Olympic moments. How do you deal with pressure in those situations? Do you try to block it out, or do you embrace it?

Poulin: Every time you wear that maple leaf is always special, and I've learned to embrace it. Sometimes it's scary. You never want to disappoint people, you never want to let people down.

But I try to bring my best every day and try my best to keep improving. I don't want to look too far ahead. I go day by day knowing we're 28 (players) this year in Calgary training for the same thing, knowing that we have each other's backs. It's something that's really special and it makes the pressure a little (easier) knowing that we're all in it together.

Gold-Smith: Canada is the four-time defending Olympic champion in women's hockey, but does it feel like you have something to prove in Pyeongchang given that the U.S. team has beaten you in these more recent tournaments?

Poulin: Every time we play them, we have something to prove, not only for (others but) for ourselves. We want to achieve our goal, which is to bring back the gold medal. I know we haven't had it easy against them.

We've lost a couple of big games against them, so it's in the back of our minds every time we train and we want to raise the bar every time for ourselves to keep getting better every day. So obviously, it's in the back of our heads, but we use that (as) motivation. We know what to do to make it right, so we're going to go day by day and keep improving as a team.

Gold-Smith: Canada and the U.S. are so dominant on the women's side in international hockey, and while we've seen countries like Finland make big strides, the two North American programs are still a cut above. What do you think it's going to take for the other countries to get on that level, and do you think that's possible?

Poulin: It is. We've seen (at the) last World Championship, we lost against Finland, and you can tell that every game, it gets harder. Knowing that those countries are coming up, it's something we want to (be mindful of).

You can tell there was a big difference at the last couple of World Championships. Every game is special, every game is getting harder, and it's fun to see other countries coming up and knowing that their federations are helping them to keep improving and helping them in their preparation.

Gold-Smith: Speaking of international hockey but in a different sense, you play for the Canadiennes of Montreal in the CWHL, and that league took a big leap this season by adding two expansion teams in China. Do you think that's a constructive way to grow the league and the game?

Poulin: I didn't expect it at first, but it's a great opportunity for the two teams there in China, knowing that there are North American players that went there, and who are helping out over there, so it's great.

(As far as) expansion, hopefully it's going to keep going. It's fun to see that China is putting money into the women's game over there, and it's great. Hopefully, here in Canada and the U.S., we can keep building the league to keep going even bigger, and maybe one day make that a living.

Gold-Smith: Caroline Ouellette is someone who clearly means a lot to you. She was your childhood hero, you won Olympic gold together, you won the CWHL's Clarkson Cup together, and there was that great moment back in the spring when you got down on your knees and handed her the trophy.

She then passed it to (Canadiennes teammate and American star) Julie Chu, and we just learned last week that Caroline and Julie welcomed their first child together. When did you find out the good news and how did you react?

Poulin: It was right after Worlds when they announced (Oullette) was pregnant, and obviously it was such great news. They deserve the best, and having that little girl, I'm so happy for them.

They've done so much, and knowing that little girl (is) coming up and we'll be able to teach her and be around her, it's just amazing. Having that little baby girl around is going to be quite amazing, and I'm so happy. They deserve the best, and I'm so happy to see that little family growing.

Gold-Smith: Who's she going to play for, Canada or the U.S.?

Poulin: (Laughs) Hopefully Canada.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)