New development involving Marie-Philip Poulin raises questions ahead of quarterfinal

There was a noticeable development at Rho Arena on Friday morning.

Marie-Philip Poulin was back on the ice. The 34-year-old superstar, who has been sidelined since suffering a lower-body injury early in Canada’s preliminary-round matchup against Czechia, took part in practice ahead of Saturday’s quarterfinal against Germany.

Poulin was among the first players to step onto the ice, cautiously testing her right leg. While the session began carefully, she also participated in light passing and shooting drills as practice progressed.

Her absence has been significant. Canada has had to adjust quickly without its captain and emotional leader, particularly after a difficult loss to the United States that left the group searching for answers.

Friday’s development doesn’t automatically confirm what comes next. After practice, Poulin remained day to day and Claire Hanna reported that she’ll have another medical assessment on Saturday before the game against Germany to determine if she can play.

But seeing Poulin back in action, even in a limited capacity, adds a new layer of intrigue heading into the knockout stage. She admitted that she tweaked her knee against Czechia, and while it's feeling better, it still hurts...

All eyes will now be on Saturday.