From Canadian Champion to Czechia Coach: Carla MacLeod's Olympic Evolution
In a remarkable twist of hockey fate, Carla MacLeod—a two-time Olympic gold medalist for Canada—now finds herself plotting strategies to defeat her home nation. As head coach of Team Czechia at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, MacLeod brings her championship pedigree to an international bench, marking a significant chapter in her post-playing career.
A Surprising Path from Player to Coach
After celebrating back-to-back Olympic victories with Team Canada in 2006 and 2010, MacLeod transitioned from player to coach, building her credentials primarily in Calgary. Her journey took an unexpected turn when she received a career-defining phone call offering her the head coaching position for the Czech national women's hockey team. This opportunity emerged shortly after Czechia's Olympic debut in 2022, following a quarterfinal exit in Beijing and the departure of previous coach Tomáš Pacina.
"It's not about me and my journey. It's about the players and their journeys," MacLeod emphasized in an exclusive interview with the Ottawa Citizen. "I'm just excited to be a piece of it and try to help them achieve their own goals. That's what coaching is all about."
Transforming Czechia's Hockey Program
Under MacLeod's leadership, the Czech national team has undergone a notable transformation. Over the past four years, she has guided the program to four consecutive bronze-medal games at the women's world championships, securing medals in two of those appearances. This consistent performance has elevated Czechia's standing in international women's hockey and built momentum heading into the 2026 Olympics.
MacLeod, who also serves as head coach of the Professional Women's Hockey League's Ottawa Charge, accepted the Czechia position while coaching the University of Calgary women's hockey program. She received approval from the university to take on this additional international role, demonstrating her commitment to developing the sport at multiple levels.
Embracing International Coaching Opportunities
Unlike athletes who must hold citizenship to represent countries at the Olympics, coaches face no such restrictions. This allows national programs to recruit the best coaching talent globally, regardless of passport. MacLeod's appointment exemplifies this trend, as she brings Canadian hockey expertise to a European program seeking fresh leadership and strategic innovation.
"There was a really natural draw to the Czech group just because I thought they played the game in a really unique way, but a really fun way," MacLeod explained, highlighting what attracted her to the position.
Balancing Dual Coaching Roles
While preparing Czechia for Olympic competition, MacLeod continues her duties with the Ottawa Charge, demonstrating her ability to manage multiple high-level coaching responsibilities simultaneously. Her experience with both professional and international teams provides valuable cross-pollination of strategies and player development approaches.
As she looks ahead to her first Olympic Games coaching in Czech colours, MacLeod reflects on finding her place within a hockey culture far from her Canadian roots. "Any time I work with a team, it's not about who the team is, it's that I get to work with people that make up the team," she stated, dismissing any notion of stigma about coaching outside one's home country.
Looking Toward Milano-Cortina 2026
The upcoming Winter Olympics present a unique scenario where a Canadian hockey legend will be behind the bench for a team competing against Canada. For PWHL fans who remember MacLeod's golden moments in a Canadian jersey, seeing her guide Czechia might initially seem surprising. However, her focus remains squarely on helping her current team achieve their Olympic aspirations while continuing to grow women's hockey internationally.
MacLeod's journey from Olympic champion to international coach represents the evolving landscape of women's hockey, where expertise transcends borders and opportunities for leadership continue to expand beyond traditional pathways.
