MILAN (AP) — As top-seeded Team USA practiced a day before its quarterfinal matchup against host Italy, the Canadians were on the nearby main rink reminding everyone it might not be time to count them out of the women’s hockey Olympic tournament just yet.
It was evident in the sound of Canada’s goal song — Bachman–Turner Overdrive’s “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” — consistently echoing through the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena complex during a 5-0 preliminary round-closing win over Finland on Thursday.
The victory clinched the defending Olympic champions the second seed in Group A, and a quarterfinal meeting against Germany on Saturday.
More significantly, it represented Canada’s response to a 5-0 loss to the Americans on Tuesday, marking the women team’s most lopsided loss and first time being shut out in Olympic play.
“Of course we needed that. It felt good for all of us,” forward Laura Stacey said.
“We needed a good message to be sent, honestly to everybody, but more importantly ourselves,” she added. “I think we are a confident bunch. We know what we can do. Obviously, it wasn’t our best game the other night. But this is the Olympics here, and we regrouped. We battled, and came back really strong today.”
The game was initially scheduled last week, but postponed after Finland’s lineup was depleted by a stomach virus.
It’s on to the knockout round for the remaining eight-team field, and headed by the tournament-favored Americans, who swept all four games by a combined score of 20-1.
The U.S. will play Italy on Friday, the same day third-seeded Czechia will face Group B winner Sweden.
Canada’s quarterfinal outing is Saturday, along with Finland playing Switzerland in a matchup of Group A’s fourth- and fifth-place finishers.