The Best Female Player In The World?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: There is no better writer in hockey than Eric Duhatschek.

In fact the only reason I initially signed up to pay annual fees to read The Athletic was so I could read more from the man they call The Hat. He's that good.

This week he has a simply fantastic feature piece on Team Canada's new women's team captain: Marie-Philip Poulin. It's behind that aforementioned pay wall, so I can't share it with you but in the article you can't help but wonder if, in a post-Haley Wickenheiser world, Poulin is the best female player on the planet right now.

You don't have to ask Cassie Campbell-Pascall twice. The legend (why isn't she in the Hockey Hall of Fame?) turned CBC broadcaster has no doubts, calling her the Sidney Crosby of women's hockey.

“That’s the big thing that separated Wick from everybody – her shot,” Campbell-Pascall told Duhatschek. “She could shoot before anyone else could. But Poulin is just so strong. Even though she’s not as tall as Wick was, she’s a pretty thick girl. She’s built like Crosby – thick, but a little shorter. Then there’s just her skill. She really is the Sidney Crosby of women’s hockey. She has a great shot. It’s her skating ability, her edge work, her ability to protect the puck. To me, she’s got the shot of a Wickenheiser; the hockey sense of a Danielle Goyette, and the speed of a Jayna Hefford. She’s a complete package.”

Despite an international resume that includes dramatic goals on par with Paul Henderson, Mario Lemieux, Jayna Hefford and Crosby, Poulin may need an introduction, or at least a refresher. Such is life in women's hockey.

Duhatschek's article is the best way to learn more about her. He looks back at her youth, and how at age 15 she moved to Montreal to chase puck-chasing dreams despite not knowing a word of English. A few short years later she's graduating from Boston University and finally comfortable with her second language.

Along the way she famously scored back-to-back gold medal winning goals at the 2010 and 2014 Olympic games. Her performance in Vancouver should be particularly noted, as she scored the tying and overtime winning goals to win on home ice.

She's been a mainstay on Team Canada since she was 18, winning the 2012 World Championship gold medal and a whole bunch of silvers. Last spring she led  Les Canadiennes de Montreal to the Canadian Women’s Hockey League championship.

And now, at 26 years old, she has been named captain of a transitioning Team Canada as they look to win yet another Olympic gold medal title.

It's hard to imagine what Poulin can do for an encore. She doesn't need to score more dramatic goals to cement her status. She's a future Hall of Famer, and has at least one more Olympics on her horizon.

Drama Queens! Canada Beats USA In Overtime For Women's Hockey Gold

In one of the greatest comebacks in Olympic hockey history Team Canada beat Team USA in the gold medal game of the 2014 Sochi Olympics. Marie-Philip Poulin scored in the dying seconds to tie the game, and then scored again in overtime to win the game 3-2.

The win is the 4th consecutive gold meal for Team Canada, and 20th consecutive win at the Olympics.

The young and the relentless American women's hockey team has emerged as the dominant team in women's hockey in recent years, but they have not been able to defeat Canada at the Olympics. They had won four of the previous five world championships and dominated Canada in the pre-Olympic exhibition matches. They seemed prime to finally take the Olympic title.

Meghan Duggan and Alex Carpenter - daughter of NHL legend Bobby Carpenter - scored for USA. The Americans seemed to control the game much of the time, especially when given power play opportunities. Canada's rookie defender Tara Watchorn took three minor penalties, including on what appeared to be on Carpenter's heart-breaking goal.

But the defending champs refused to give up, storming back to force overtime in dramatic fashion.

Brianne Jenner revived Canadian hopes with a late goal with just 3:26 left to play, starting a comeback of Olympic proportion. 

Canada pulled their goaltender for the extra attacker, only to see the linesman accidentally interfere with the play, allowing the Americans to clear the zone. The puck, seemingly in slow motion, flittered down the ice only to the hit the post, keeping Canada's slim chance alive.

On the very next play Marie-Philip Poulin scored to force overtime, shocking most observers who were ready to write off the veteran champions.

The Americans stormed out to feverish start of OT only to see Shannon Szabados with spectacular saves to keep Canada in the game. Enough can not be said about Szabados' excellent play on Thursday.

The Americans kept the pressure on and eventually something had to give. British referee Joy Johnston called a 2 minute cross-checking penalty on Catherine Ward, giving the Americans 4 on 3 power play with lots of room on the big ice. 

Jocelyne Lamoureux would be called for slashing only 6 seconds later, allowing for an incredibly rare 3 on 3 play for nearly 2 minutes.

The three one three play was highlight by a clear breakaway for Hayley Wickenheiser who was then hauled down by Hilary Knight. The referee did call the penalty on Knight, but incredibly did not award the penalty shot.

Canada regained their composure and went to work on the power play where Marie Philip Poulin scored again.

You have to feel bad for American veteran Julie Chu. This is her third and quite possibly last Olympics. Only Angela Ruggeiro has played more games for USA than the five time world champion Chu. But she was unable to add the gold medal to her jewellery collection.