With her on-ice legacy secure, Poulin may now lead women’s pro hockey as only she can | CBC Sports

If Marie-Philip Poulin is a leader by example, then good luck to all of her disciples — at least on the ice.

Poulin scored her 100th and 101st career goals in Canada’s 5-1 win over the Czech Republic on Friday at worlds, becoming the fourth Canadian to reach triple digits. The other three — Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Danielle Goyette — are in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

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Marie-Philip Poulin became the fourth player to reach the century mark in career goals with the Canadian women’s team.

It’s just the latest accomplishment for Poulin in a career so full of them she’s been nicknamed Captain Clutch.

She’s scored in four consecutive Olympic finals, leading to three gold medals. She’s associated with perhaps the most famous goals in team history, notching both the game-tying and game-winning markers at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“She means everything to our group,” said Blayre Turnbull, who collected the primary assist on No. 100. “I think she’s the perfect example of someone who leads by example day in and day out, on and off the ice, and we’re so lucky to have her as our captain.”

Turnbull, Renata Fast and Jaime Bourbonnais also scored for Canada. Natalie Mlynkova responded for the Czechs, who fell to 1-1 with the loss.

Earlier Friday, the U.S. (2-0) topped Switzerland (0-2) 9-1, while Finland (2-0) blanked Germany (1-1) 3-0.

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The truest definition of a superstar

For as great as Poulin is, it’s a shame that these days, Canadian fans only get to see their superstar play hockey at the highest level once a year, either at worlds or the Olympics.

And she is the truest definition of a superstar.

When the lineup was announced pre-game at the CAA Centre, the loudest cheer was reserved for Poulin. Soon after, a young fan begged Poulin for a puck in warmups, and the captain obliged.

Outside of international events, Poulin hasn’t played a meaningful hockey game since 2019, the final year of the now-defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League.

Poulin is a member of the Professional Women’s Hockey Players’ Association, a union formed from the ashes of the CWHL.

‘We have a role in pushing women’s hockey’

The Beauceville, Que., native is now 32, meaning she’ll have lost four years of her athletic prime. She said there is a responsibility to push the pro game forward.

“I think we’re all aware that everyone that’s in women’s hockey, we have a role in pushing women’s hockey,” Poulin said.

There are reports the PWHPA will begin a formal pro league in the fall, after holding out four years in search of sustainability — salaries that don’t require players to hold second jobs, proper facilities and support staff for pro athletes and more.

The burden to lead that league, fairly or not, will fall onto Poulin’s shoulders more than others. It’s just part of the deal when you wear the “C” for Canada for so long.

“The more she pushes, the more we all want to push too, so she’s leading the way for all of us and we’re following along,” Turnbull said.

Undeniable skill

Sarah Nurse, a PWHPA board member, told CBC Sports the future of the sport will be reliant on its talent.

“I think that obviously the skill on the ice is something that you know can’t be disputed and so now it’s just putting that infrastructure together so that we can showcase it on a regular basis.”

Poulin’s skill — evident in her 100th goal, in which Turnbull said she “deked the pants off” the Czech goalie after a pass on a 2-on-0 — is near unmatched in the history of the sport.

“She’s gonna be remembered as the best woman to ever play the game and possibly the best person to ever play the game, man or woman,” Turnbull said.

According to Canada head coach Troy Ryan, the sport is in good hands with Poulin.

“The person she is, the character she brings, the player she is and the skill. Everything you want in a leader, she has it.”

Poulin making impact in NHL

In the intermediate time without a pro league, Poulin has helped blaze trails for women in the NHL, joining the Montreal Canadiens as a player consultant.

Poulin scored her first goal for Team Canada in September 2007 in a win over Sweden in Prince George, B.C.

Wickenheiser is the team’s all-time leader with 168 goals. Poulin, barring injury, could potentially threaten that mark.

Unsurprisingly, Poulin said she hasn’t thought much about her legacy.

If everything goes according to plan on the professional side, that joy will be permeated even more moving forward.

Canada returns to the ice Saturday for a tilt against Japan before wrapping group play on Monday against the Americans. Both games are at 7 p.m. ET.