The national women’s hockey team of Finland had to call off their practice session on Wednesday due to a stomach bug affecting at least four players, as confirmed by a team representative to The Associated Press. Finland is set to kick off the Milan-Cortina Olympics against Canada, the defending champion, in Italy.
Despite the setback, the game is still on schedule, with team officials updating the International Ice Hockey Federation on the situation. The affected players, who are believed to be suffering from a norovirus, have been isolated in their rooms, as reported by Finland’s national public broadcaster Yle.
Finland, a four-time Olympic bronze medalist, finished third at the 2022 Beijing Games and has claimed bronze at the last two women’s world championships. The team will have a day off on Friday before facing the United States on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the United States women’s hockey team, led by head coach John Wroblewski, is gearing up for their Olympic tournament opener without any nervousness. The team, ranked at the top, recently swept old rivals and defending Olympic champions Canada in the Rivalry Series.
Wroblewski emphasized the team’s transformation since facing challenges in previous years, aiming to showcase their resilience and readiness for the Olympic competition. The United States will face the Czech Republic in their opening match and will have a rematch with Canada on February 10 during the preliminary stage.
The coach stressed the importance of confidence and muscle memory over mere competition, urging the players to focus on their performance rather than getting consumed by nerves. The team is determined to prove their worth on the ice during the upcoming matches.