The wait is finally over for Canadian hockey fans. After a false start due to the postponement of their original opener against Finland, Team Canada kicks off their gold medal defense today, Saturday, February 7, 2026, against a resilient Team Switzerland squad. The puck drops at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena, and the atmosphere in Milan is electric.
Whether you are cheering from a living room in Toronto or a chalet in Zurich, here is everything you need to know to catch the action live, including TV channels, streaming options, and what to expect from this Group A clash.
How to Watch Team Canada vs. Team Switzerland on TV and Stream
The game is scheduled for 3:00 PM ET (12:00 PM PT). Here is where you can tune in:
In Canada:
- TV: The game will be broadcast nationally on CBC and TSN1. French-language coverage is available on ICI Radio-Canada Télé and RDS.
- Streaming: You can stream the game for free on CBC Gem and the CBC Olympics website. Subscribers to TSN+ and Sportsnet+ can also access the feed via their respective apps.
In Switzerland:
- TV: Tune into SRF two (German), RTS 2 (French), or RSI La 2 (Italian) for live coverage from the national broadcaster SRG SSR.
- Streaming: Live streams are available on the Play SRF, Play RTS, and Play RSI websites and apps.
Regional Blackouts Explained
For the Olympics, “blackouts” don’t work the same way they do for NHL regular-season games. There are no local blackouts within Canada or Switzerland. If you are in Canada, you can watch the CBC/TSN broadcast from anywhere in the country.
However, geo-blocking is in effect. This means if you are a Canadian traveling abroad (outside of Canada), you cannot simply log into CBC Gem to watch the game due to international rights restrictions. You would need to watch via the local rights holder of the country you are currently in (e.g., NBC/Peacock in the USA, Eurosport/Discovery+ in Europe).
Team Records, Key Players, and Game Preview
Team Canada
- Olympic Record: Since women’s hockey debuted in 1998, Canada has been a juggernaut. They have won 5 Gold Medals (2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022) and 2 Silver Medals (1998, 2018).
- All-Time Leading Scorer: The legendary Hayley Wickenheiser holds the record with 18 goals and 51 points. However, current captain Marie-Philip Poulin—”Captain Clutch”—is hot on her heels with 17 career Olympic goals.
- Key Injuries/Notes: Team Canada is relatively healthy, though forward Sarah Nurse is looking to bounce back strong after an injury-hit professional season. The team is fresh, having not played since the postponement of their Thursday game.
Team Switzerland
- Olympic Record: Switzerland’s crowning achievement was the Bronze Medal in 2014 (Sochi). They finished 4th in 2022 and have struggled to crack the top two.
- All-Time Leading Scorer: Alina Müller is the engine of this team. She is the program’s all-time leader in Olympic scoring and recently tied the Swiss record for Olympic goals.
- Key Injuries/Notes: The Swiss team is battling adversity. A norovirus outbreak forced the team into isolation yesterday, and one player tested positive. Despite this, they played yesterday (beating Czechia 4-3 in a shootout) and are playing today on zero days’ rest.
Game Prediction
In my view, this is a distinct mismatch in circumstances. Canada is rested, hungry, and arguably the deepest team in the tournament. Switzerland is playing back-to-back games less than 24 hours apart while managing a viral outbreak within the locker room. While Alina Müller is world-class, the Swiss defense will likely be overwhelmed by Canada’s relentless forecheck.
I predict a dominant 6-1 victory for Team Canada, with Marie-Philip Poulin netting a pair of goals.
NHL Update & Join Our Pool
While the Olympics take center stage, the NHL season is paused, but the race for the Art Ross Trophy is hotter than ever for the 2025-26 season. Connor McDavid currently leads the pack with 96 points, closely followed by Nathan MacKinnon (93) and Nikita Kucherov (91). If you think you know who will finish on top, or if you want to test your knowledge for the upcoming post-season, join our online playoff hockey pool! We are offering real cash prizes this year, so head over to the main page of my website to sign up and lock in your picks before the season resumes.
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