Team Canada Women play Czechia today at 3 pm. Czechia has been trying to take over third spot in the rankings from Finland lately, and they'd like to firmly grab it and hold it, so they won't be an easy out.

The NHL players have arrived in Italy so it's time to be mad online about practice lines.

I love this pic of Sidney Crosby showing his credentials:

The Americans are making a point of staying in the village, whether the Canadians do or not is up to them. But Auston Matthews is rooming with Dylan Larkin and that can't stop being funny. The only thing better would be Rasmus Dahlin.

Check out what the village looks like here: https://www.iihf.com/en/events/2026/olympic-m/news/72019/a_look_inside_the_olympic_village_for_athletes

Celebrini is ‘going to be asked to play a big role’ for Team Canada at Olympics | NHL.com
19-year-old practices on line with McDavid, Wilson, going to ‘trust my abilities’ when games begin
NHL logoDan Rosen

And there are other teams than Canada and USA:

The story on line three, from reading a few Tweets from Swedes, is that Elias Pettersson played centre, but he and Zibanejad split the faceoff chores.

Also, Pontus Holmberg with a spot on the Olympic roster. How good is that?

Team Canada Men don't play until Thursday, so there's lots more time to see some potential line combinations in practice.

Auston Matthews is Team USA captain, neither of the other two Leafs got a letter, but that William Nylander fellow is likely going to be counted on to score some goals.

Sweden plays on Wednesday at 3 pm Toronto time against the host Italy.

That's it for today, and go Canada go this afternoon.

Oh, and Mikaela Shiffrin came ready to talk to the press:

Always be ready.

From The Branches