Finnish Women's Hockey Team Returns to Olympic Ice After Norovirus Scare
The three-time Olympic bronze medallists from Finland made their long-awaited return to competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, but their comeback story was quickly overshadowed by a dominant performance from the United States women's hockey team. After having their first game postponed due to a significant norovirus outbreak that quarantined 13 players, the Finnish squad finally hit the ice with a full bench on Saturday afternoon at Rho Arena.
From Quarantine to Competition
The dramatic scene unfolded almost an hour before puck drop when the door to the players' bench opened and a determined procession of Finnish players burst through. One by one, the athletes who had been sidelined by the gastrointestinal virus took to the ice, marking a significant moment in these Winter Games. The team's initial matchup against Canada had been postponed just two nights earlier when health officials confirmed the outbreak among the Finnish roster.
The virus concern extended beyond just the Finnish team, as Olympic officials revealed on Friday that a Swiss women's player had also been quarantined after showing symptoms of the norovirus. This development raised legitimate questions about whether the competition could proceed as scheduled and whether the virus might compromise the integrity of the tournament.
Overwhelmed by American Power
Despite having a complete roster at his disposal, Finnish coach Tero Lehtera watched as his team was overwhelmed by the powerful Americans in both talent and energy. The scoreboard told a familiar story that hockey fans have come to expect when either the United States or Canada face opponents from the second tier of women's international hockey.
The Americans systematically wore down the weary Finns on their way to a convincing 5-0 victory, demonstrating their offensive firepower with a staggering 49-11 advantage in shots on goal. The reigning silver medallists have now started the tournament with a rousing 2-0 record and appear to be building momentum toward what many anticipate will be an inevitable showdown with their archrival, Canada.
Early Resilience Fades Against Superior Opponent
In the early stages of the game, the Finns displayed the familiar pesky style that has made them fringe medal contenders in previous Olympic tournaments. Despite the Americans dominating puck possession and keeping the majority of play in the Finnish defensive zone, the underdogs managed to keep their heavily favoured opponents at bay for a significant portion of the first period.
Trying to preserve as much energy as possible with his team, Lehtera kept his players' shifts short, which at least made the early going interesting for spectators. The Americans didn't score their first goal until almost 16 minutes into the contest, but once they broke through, they never looked back, adding a pair of power play goals to secure their decisive victory.
This marked the ninth game of the Olympic hockey tournament but represented one of the most important moments thus far, as it demonstrated both the resilience of the Finnish team in overcoming their health challenges and the continued dominance of the American program in women's international hockey.
