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Finland’s national women’s hockey team cancelled practice Wednesday due to a stomach illness affecting at least four players, a team spokesman confirmed to The Associated Press.
“We’re reviewing a difficult situation,” Henna Malmberg said a day before Finland is scheduled to open the Milan-Cortina Olympics against defending champion Canada in Italy.
Malmberg said the game is still scheduled to be played, with team officials in the midst of providing an update to International Ice Hockey Federation on the situation. Finland has an off day on Friday, before facing the United States on Saturday.
Finland’s national public broadcaster Yle first reported four players experienced stomach problems overnight due to what’s believed to be a norovirus. The players have spent the day isolated in their rooms, the broadcaster reported.
Finland is a four-time Olympic bronze medallist after finishing third at the 2022 Beijing Games. The team has also won bronze at the past two women’s world championships.
U.S. carries bruises, scars, coach says
There will be no “white-knuckling” when the United States opens its women’s Olympic tournament on Thursday, said head coach John Wroblewski as the top-ranked team prepare to play with a target on their backs.
The world champions will take the ice as the favourites after a recent four-game sweep of old foes and defending Olympic champions Canada in the Rivalry Series.
“In February 2023 or 2024, Canada was cleaning us up in Rivalry. We weren’t even getting the puck. I remember those bruises and scars,” said Wroblewski, who put together a youthful squad designed to withstand the demands of the Olympic grind.
“I want to give them the confidence that they’ve earned their spot here.” The United States play on Thursday against the Czech Republic, with its group stage opponents considered possible contenders to make the podium despite having only one previous trip to the Games under their belts.
The rematch of the 2022 gold medal game happens on February 10, when the U.S. meets Canada in the preliminary stage.
“If you’re white-knuckling now, if it is all about you competing and your effort, you are in trouble,” said Wroblewski.
“There has to be a lot of muscle memory and confidence that you are ready to go out and perform, rather than just compete.”