Rising defender Chloe Primerano fights for place on Olympic roster

Nearly four years ago, teenage hockey prospect Chloe Primerano stayed up late recording Canada’s Olympic games in Beijing, making her family hide the results so she could watch them after school. Now, at just 18, she’s vying for a place on the national team that will defend its gold medal in Italy this February.

Primerano, a standout defender with the University of Minnesota, is one of 30 players invited to Canada’s Olympic training blocks this fall. If she makes the roster, she would become the youngest player to join the team since captain Marie-Philip Poulin in 2010.

Poulin, who has been living with Primerano during camp, praised her younger teammate’s skills. “The way she plays just says it all,” Poulin said. “She’s so skilled with the puck, the way she shoots, the way she skates—it’s very impressive. The future is quite bright for her.”

Training in a New Era Without Centralization

For decades, Canada’s Olympic hopefuls centralized in Calgary months before the Games, training and playing dozens of games together. But with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) now in full swing, Hockey Canada has shifted its approach.

Instead of centralization, players will join three short training blocks across the country this fall, including the current one in Toronto. The team will play just four pre-Olympic games, all against the U.S., as part of the Rivalry Series.

Assistant captain Blayre Turnbull, aiming for her third Olympics, said the reduced preparation time makes every session more meaningful. “The condensed centralization just makes everything a bit more valuable. Every practice, every meeting—we’re making the most of it,” she said.

Impact of the PWHL on Olympic Selection

The creation of the PWHL in 2023 has changed both how Canada prepares and who gets noticed. Strong league performances have opened doors for players like Daryl Watts, Sophie Jaques, Kati Tabin, and Hannah Miller, who earned camp invitations through their standout play.

Miller, previously part of the Chinese national team, is still awaiting IIHF clearance to represent Canada at the Olympics. “That’s basically the only reason I’m here is because of the PWHL,” she said. “It’s best-on-best every night. It’s changing the landscape of national teams, and I think that’s great.”

Building Chemistry On and Off the Ice

Head coach Troy Ryan stressed that with limited game time, noticing small sparks of chemistry—whether in practice or off-ice bonding—is crucial. Living together in rented houses rather than hotels is part of that strategy.

For Primerano, being surrounded by veterans like Poulin is both motivating and reassuring. “For her to be here, to be surrounded with us, her confidence is just going to keep growing,” Poulin said. “If she needs us, we’re right there with her.”

As the countdown to Italy begins, Canada’s women’s hockey team is blending youth and experience, league competition and national duty, in hopes of keeping its Olympic dominance alive.