MILAN – The opening game of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina has been postponed due to a norovirus outbreak within the Finnish team. The preliminary round matchup between Finland and defending Olympic champion Canada, originally scheduled for today, will now be played on at 8:30 a.m. ET at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
The postponement was confirmed jointly by the International Olympic Committee, the Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee, the International Ice Hockey Federation, Team Finland and Team Canada. The decision comes after a growing number of Finnish players began exhibiting symptoms of the highly contagious gastrointestinal illness, forcing the team into quarantine.
The first signs of illness appeared on Tuesday night, with four players initially isolated due to stomach flu. By Thursday, that number had risen to 13, leaving Finland with only 10 players available for practice – eight skaters and two goaltenders. The situation prompted concerns about the team’s ability to safely and competitively participate in the scheduled game.
“If the match against Canada had proceeded as scheduled, Finland would have had to consider withdrawing,” according to reports. The severity of the situation led Finnish head coach Tero Lehtera to advocate for the game’s postponement, stating, “It may not be fair to have 10 healthy players play the full game.” Lehtera also expressed concern about the potential for further spread of the virus, adding, “Although most of the players are entering the recovery stage, they are not yet in good condition to play in action. We also had to consider the possibility of the infection spreading to Canadian players on the opposing team.”
Organizers emphasized that the health and safety of all participants were the paramount consideration in making the decision. “We placed the health and safety of all participants, including athletes, teams, and staff, as the top priority and made the decision in accordance with health and safety guidelines,” a statement read. “It was an inevitable decision to protect the spirit of the Olympics and the fairness of the competition.”
The postponement impacts the early schedule for both teams. Canada, seeking to continue its Olympic dominance in women’s hockey, will now have a less substantial break before the quarterfinal round than initially anticipated. Finland will now have additional days to recover before their next scheduled game against the United States on Saturday, , at 10:40 a.m. ET at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena.
Finland enters the tournament ranked third in the world, having won the bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Canada is the reigning Olympic champion. Both teams are in Group A alongside the United States, Czechia, and Switzerland.
The organizing committee stated its hope that the rescheduled game will be played in a “safer and more appropriate environment.” The 14 Finnish players currently affected by the outbreak include goalies Sanni Ahola, defenders Sini Karjaleinen, Elli Suoranta, and Ronja Savolainen, and forwards Michelle Karvinen, Julia Liikala, Emma Nuutinen, Jenniina Nylund, Julia Schalin, Susanna Tapani, Noora Tulus, Viivi Vainikka, Sanni Vanhanen, and Emilia Vesa. Viivi Vainikka was a late addition to the list of affected players, reportedly added during Thursday’s pre-game skate.
The decision to postpone the game underscores the challenges of hosting a major international sporting event during a period of heightened health concerns. The organizing committee’s swift action reflects a commitment to prioritizing athlete well-being and maintaining the integrity of the competition.
