“The ultimate.”
That’s how Canadian coach Troy Ryan described Marie-Philip Poulin’s leadership after the captain’s latest achievement on the international stage.
“The person she is, the character she brings, the player she is, the skill, everything you want in a leader, she has it,” Ryan said.
Poulin scored her 100th international goal in Canada’s win over Czechia on Friday at the women’s world hockey championship in Brampton, leaving her teammates and coaches to marvel at her attention to detail and the way she makes everyone else feel good about themselves.
“I honestly don’t even think she knows what that means to teammates and even to coaches at times,” Ryan said. “She has the ability to even make a coach feel good about the things they’ve done, or the little adjustments they’ve made. She is not overly vocal, but she picks her spots well and, when she does, she makes people feel special.”
Poulin was limited to one assist in a 5-0 win over Japan on Saturday, when the Canadians outshot their opponents 60-11. Sarah Fillier had two goals and an assist but Canada was stymied much of the night by Japanese goaltender Miyuu Masuhara. Emerance Maschmeyer had the shutout for the host country.
A night earlier, Poulin became the fourth Canadian player to score 100 goals in international competition, joining Hayley Wickenheiser, Jayna Hefford and Danielle Goyette. Beyond the goals that have earned her the moniker “Captain Clutch,” Poulin demonstrates her leadership qualities almost every shift. She is quick to pat players on the shoulder or offer a word of thanks or encouragement every time they block a shot, take a hit or set up a goal — any small detail that helps win a hockey game.
“She notices all the little things, and that’s what we try to focus on as a team … celebrating the little things — blocking shots, getting pucks out, clearing the front of the net, screening the other team’s goalie, winning the battles,” Canadian defender Jocelyne Larocque said.
The 100-goal milestone is part of a legacy for the 32-year-old Poulin that includes three gold medal-winning goals at the Olympics and another at the 2021 world championship.
“Hopefully, I’m able to make a difference, bring people together the way I work,” the Beauceville, Que., native said. “It’s something I take a lot pride in. Hopefully people see that and how much joy hockey brings me.”
Czechia coach Carla MacLeod, a former teammate of Poulin’s in the 2010 Olympics, hugged the Canadian captain following Friday’s game. MacLeod was honoured to be part of Poulin’s history-making night, even from the opposing bench.
“Pou’s so great, and I was fortunate to be her teammate and benefit from the goals she scored then, in Vancouver, and she’s just a very special player,” MacLeod said. “I couldn’t be more thrilled for her and it was nice to give her a hug at the end of the game.”
Undefeated after three games, Canada is set for a showdown with the rival U.S. on Monday. Poulin says the historic goals — many of them against the Americans — are “obviously nice” but she is focused on the smaller things again.
“The little details are going to matter in the end,” she said.