Norovirus Outbreak Postpones Canada-Finland Olympic Hockey Match
The opening game for both the Canadian and Finnish women’s hockey teams at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics has been postponed due to a norovirus outbreak within the Finnish team. Thirteen members of Team Finland are currently ill or in quarantine, leaving only ten players available to compete.
The decision to postpone the game, originally scheduled for , was made jointly by the International Olympic Committee, the International Ice Hockey Federation, and the organizing committee, following consultations with medical professionals. The game has been rescheduled for at 8:30 a.m. ET.
“I think in the spirit of the Games and wanting to compete in these Games, and making sure that we’re doing so in a safe manner, was our priority,” said Canadian GM Gina Kingsbury. “We felt it was a good option and a responsible decision for us to be able to postpone.”
Kingsbury emphasized that forfeiting the game was never considered. The health and well-being of all participants was the primary concern in the decision-making process. “You work four years to come to an Olympic Games,” Kingsbury said. “We know what it means to represent your country and to be in this incredible tournament. To fall sick and to have a group of athletes under the weather the way they are, we feel for them.”
Illness Confined to Finnish Team
As of evening, the illness appears to be isolated to the Finnish women’s hockey team, with no reported cases among the Canadian players. Kingsbury indicated that the Canadian team was receiving guidance from medical staff on preventative measures, including frequent handwashing and avoiding touching their faces – precautions familiar from the COVID-19 protocols of the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Canada will now begin its Olympic tournament against Switzerland on at 3:10 p.m. ET, followed by matches against Czechia on and the United States on . The rescheduled game against Finland will conclude the preliminary round.
The altered schedule will require some logistical adjustments for the Canadian team, who had meticulously planned their time in Italy. However, Kingsbury expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt. “One thing we know is that Games are always unpredictable,” she stated. “As a group, we’ve focused on being adaptable and making sure that we’ve got the right people in place that can make decisions quickly and change and re-adapt, and make sure that we’re putting ourselves in the best position to be successful.”
Finland Faces Adversity
Finland’s head coach, Tero Lehterä, acknowledged the challenging situation but remained optimistic. He noted that the team had discussed the possibility of facing adversity during their preparations. “Some things might happen, you never know what happens,” Lehterä said. “And you only worry about the things that we can affect. And What we have is not something we can do anything about it. We have no say whether we play or not. It’s not up to us. When we’re told to show up, we show up.”
Lehterä even joked that playing with only ten players reminded him of a beer league game. Despite the difficulties, he emphasized the importance of staying positive and supporting each other.
Veteran Finnish defender Jenni Hiirikoski, competing in her fifth Olympic Games, echoed Lehterä’s sentiment, highlighting the team’s focus on mutual support. “It’s not nice, definitely,” Hiirikoski said. “But we try to focus one day at a time. The big thing has been how we tolerate different things. I think we try to help each other, whatever It’s, and how it goes. So it’s just stay calm and focused.”
Finland, ranked third in the world, entered the tournament as a medal contender, alongside Canada and the United States. They won a bronze medal at the 2022 Olympics and have finished third in the last two World Championships. They will now open their Olympic campaign against the United States on .
The Canadian team held a practice session on evening to adjust to the new schedule and familiarize themselves with the venue. Kingsbury emphasized the team’s preparedness for unexpected challenges, drawing on their experience from the 2022 Beijing Olympics, where a game against Russia was delayed due to late testing results.
