Poulin's work ethic is next level, as is her dominance in big games. She is a great example of what every hockey player should strive to be.
Ahead of Game 6 of the most recent Rivalry Series between Canada’s National Team and the United States National Team, Marie-Philip Poulin was recognized in her home province of Quebec for winning the Northern Star Award (Canadian Athlete of the Year) and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award (The Canadian Press Female Athlete of the Year). Following the pre-game celebration, she went on to record her 200th career point with Canada, becoming only the fifth player in Canada’s National Women’s Team history to do so.
Poulin is many things both on and off the ice, but what has always been consistent throughout her career is her ability to show up in big moments. The next time someone uses clutch in a sentence not also containing Poulin’s name, please correct them.
High School Olympian
When Poulin was named to her first Olympic Games in 2010, was still in high school. When Team USA and Team Canada met for the gold medal, a young Poulin registered two goals in the 1st period and Canada won its third straight gold medal; the kid from Beauceville, Quebec, had her first of three Olympic Gold Medal game-winning goals.
After her first Winter Olympics appearance, Poulin committed to play college hockey for the Boston University Terriers. In her freshman season at BU, Poulin had 47 points (24G, 23A) in 28 games. Despite fracturing her shoulder at the start of her sophomore campaign, Poulin skated in 16 games for the Terriers where she scored 11 goals and had 14 assists. Poulin was named one of the captains of the Terriers heading into the 2012-13 season, where she had a career high in points with 19 goals and 36 assists in 55 games played.
With another collegiate season in the books, Poulin had her eyes on yet another Olympic Games and she decided to take the season off from college and prepare for Sochi. When the tournament began, Poulin struggled with an ankle injury and wasn’t 100%. Despite limited minutes at times, she tied for the team lead in points with 5 (3G, 2A) in 5 games.
Continued Clutchness
The Canadians didn’t get off to the best start in the 2014 Gold Medal game against the Americans and eventually found themselves down 2-0 with less than four minutes to go. After Brianne Jenner scored the Canadians first of the game late in regulation, Canada found some life.
With 26 seconds to go, the one and only Poulin scored, forcing overtime.
American Hilary Knight took a penalty in OT and Canada found itself on the power play. After a few passes between Laura Fortino, Poulin snapped a quick shot on net and just like that, fans saw the completion of one of the greatest comebacks in hockey history.
At just 22-years-old, Poulin was already one of the most clutch players in hockey. There’s no argument there.
That puck was in
During the 2021 World Championships in Calgary, Canada was looking to win its first world title in almost a decade. The Americans had dominated the tournament leading up to it winning the previous five gold medals, while the Canadians were coming off their worst World Championship performance in history: a bronze in 2019. Things were looking to continue in Team USA’s favour as the Americans were up 2-0 at the end of the 1st period of the Gold Medal game.
Canada eventually went on to force overtime after tying things up 2-2. After a quick transition in the Canada zone, Poulin took off while Brianne Jenner feed her the puck down the wing and the rest was history. Well, at first nobody knew it was history except for the captain herself.
The goal light didn’t go off. The referee didn’t make a goal call. There was no whistle and the game continued. If anyone has ever seen Poulin shoot a hockey puck, you know how lethal her shot is. As soon as she shot that puck, she knew it went in. Poulin eventually went off for a line change and about 30 seconds later the buzzer went. She was right. She had scored.
In February of 2022, Marie-Philip Poulin and Team Canada looked for redemption at the Winter Olympics. Following a disappointing 2018 silver medal finish to the Americans, the Canadians had a gold or bust mindset.
Three Gold Medal Game-Winners
Heading into another Gold Medal game against the Americans, Poulin had 4 goals and 10 assists in just 6 games played. In the Canadians 3-2 victory, Poulin had 2 goals, including the game-winner to become the only player in Olympic hockey history to score three Olympic gold medal game-winners.
Poulin is a great example of what every hockey player out there should strive to be. She is a true leader in games, practices, and especially in the gym. Standing at 5-foot-6 and just shy of 160 pounds, she isn’t the biggest player out there, but that has never stopped her from playing tough and never giving up on a play.
She is always looking for ways to get better, tougher, and more skilled. There’s no secret as to why she has worn a letter on her chest in almost every aspect of her career.
Now, at 31-years-old, she seems to be entering her prime. As someone who never gets tired of watching Poulin play, I’m beyond excited to see where here career goes from here.
