Canada’s speedskating champions ready to defend Olympic team pursuit title

By Canadian Press on February 17, 2026.

MILAN — Canada’s reigning Olympic champion women’s speedskating team returns to defend its title in the team pursuit semifinals Tuesday at the Milan Cortina Olympics.

Valérie Maltais of La Baie, Que., and Ottawa’s Ivanie Blondin and Isabelle Weidemann posted the fastest quarterfinal time at two minutes 55.03 seconds and will face the United States in the semifinal. The medal races are scheduled for later in the day.

Canada’s men’s hockey team will learn its quarterfinal opponent as Czechia and Denmark meet in a qualification playoff. The Canadians cruised through their three Group A games, outscoring opponents 20-3 behind Connor McDavid’s nine points.

In snowboard slopestyle, Laurie Blouin and Juliette Pelchat compete in the women’s final. Blouin, an Olympic silver medallist in 2018, returns to the final chasing another podium, while Pelchat qualified in her Olympic debut.

Madeline Schizas returns to the ice for the women’s singles short program after helping Canada to fourth in the team event and will look to improve on her 18th-place finish at the 2022 Beijing Games.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 17, 2026.

The Canadian Press