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Emma Maltais still hasn’t had time to process.
Less than three weeks after Canada dropped a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime decision to the U.S. in the Olympic women’s hockey gold-medal game, Maltais was back on the rink with a group of girls at Leaside Memorial Arena in Toronto on Monday.
In between, the 26-year-old spent time watching other Olympic events in Milan — short-track speed skating was a highlight – before hitting the west coast with the Toronto Sceptres, who have already played four games since the break as the PWHL playoff push heats up.
Asked to reflect on her second Olympics and first silver medal, Maltais said it all still needs time to breathe.
“It’s crazy that it happened and then we just continued on,” Maltais said. “But yeah, I mean it was overall a positive experience. I think it sucks — the outcome — but we played so well in that game and we were so close. At the end of the day, I have memories that will last forever with those girls.”
Back at Leaside, Maltais had her Sceptres jersey signed by girls’ hockey players as part of a Royale initiative to pledge continued participation in sport. She also led an hour-long skills session.
The Burlington, Ont., native said she grew up playing some games in the arena and viewed it as a way to give back.
“Honestly, I feel like sometimes when you try and connect with the community, it can be hard. It can be hard to be organized, hard to send a message, right? Because you want to be a role model, but you also want to make it meaningful for them,” she said. “So I think this is a really good way to do that. So it was really cool today.”
Her message to the next generation?
“Not everyone’s going to make the PWHL or fight for Team Canada. But sport is so much more than making it a career. I think the fact that we have made it a career will keep girls in it longer just because they see a future in it,” she said.
Ironically, the youth movement has been a recent topic of conversation surrounding the national women’s team, especially during and in the wake of the Olympics.
Canada’s average age in Milan was 29.2 years old compared to the Americans at 25.8. The Canadians also had just five players under 25 compared to 13 for the U.S.
However, Maltais didn’t see cause for concern.
“I definitely think hockey is Canada’s game at the end of the day, and I think we have the development in place that can help girls reach their highest potential. But yeah, I think the more girls in hockey, the better the outcome is going to be in terms of development. So I think in this case, more is always better,” Maltais said.
Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek scored the overtime winner delivering a 3-2 win for the Frost over the Sceptres Sunday in Toronto.
She also noted that the PWHL has extended veteran players’ careers, allowing them to stick on the national team for longer.
But a big change could still be on the way for Team Canada, whose next major tournament is coming soon with the world championship in November in Denmark.
Head coach Troy Ryan and general manager Gina Kingsbury both have indicated they could step aside from their current positions.
Maltais plays for both, in those same roles, with the Sceptres.
“Troy has given so much this program and he has earned the power to make his own decisions. He’s given so much to the program and to women’s hockey,” she said.
Ryan has mentioned assistants Kori Cheverie and Caroline Ouellete as potential candidates to replace him.
For now, Ryan, Kingsbury and Maltais have a playoff race to attend to, with the Sceptres sitting in sixth place but just two points behind the New York Sirens for the fourth and final playoff spot.
Emma Maltais of the Canadian women’s hockey team was given a toy loon by a fan at Milano Cortina 2026. It’s since become a bit of a mascot within Team Canada, with the team dubbing it ‘Wolf Bird’ in reference to a memeable moment from the TV show Heated Rivalry.
The Sceptres have picked up points in all four games since returning from the Olympics, beating Seattle and Vancouver before falling to Montreal in a shootout and Minnesota in overtime.
Their most recent loss against the Frost on Sunday did not come without controversy when a non-call and call both went against Toronto in the extra frame.
“I think we’re moving in the right direction. It’s unfortunate last night that we couldn’t get it done. And sometimes that’s the game of hockey, like with everything. But honestly, the difference between us before the break and after the break, I’m really happy with our direction, Maltais said.
Just 10 games remain for the Sceptres, who were the first team in the league to reach the 20-game plateau and are looking to make the playoffs for the third straight year.
Diving into a playoff race immediately post-Olympics is something new for Maltais and her teammates, considering the PWHL did not exist during the previous Games in 2022, but she said it has been positive despite being tough on her body.
“Often athletes struggle post-Olympics. It’s just a very unique experience that I feel like can be very lonely and in a sense very challenging,” she said. “So I think having something to look forward to coming back with the playoff push, I think that’s really good for our mentals and, yeah, I think it’s overall a good thing.”
If the Sceptres reach the Walter Cup Final, there’s a world in which Maltais could be playing right through May.
But she’s okay with that.
“A lot of us have been going for quite some time. It’s an adjustment that we make for the betterment of our sport,” she said.
At some point, Maltais will get off the ice, at least for a brief spell. Whenever that happens, she plans to finally have some time off to travel a bit, see her boyfriend — and perhaps reflect further on a whirlwind year.
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