Hockey fans take in Olympic double bill

TORONTO – Canadian hockey fans were seeing double on Thursday as the Olympic men’s and women’s teams put up matching 5-0 victories in back-to-back games.

The double bill opened with the women who bounced back from a disappointing loss against the United States earlier in the week by taking down Finland. Hockey faithful, eager to see NHL players return to Olympic competition for the first time since 2014, then watched the men topple Czechia in their tournament debut.

On a strip of Toronto’s Little Portugal lined with thrift and consignment stores, the Maple Leaf was the most fashionable item at The Dock Ellis Sports Bar on Thursday morning as fans donned their red and white jerseys for the marquee hockey matchups.

“A doubleheader day is amazing. I don’t even know what time it is right now,” said Jake O’Brien at 11:38 a.m.

A few “diehards” filed into the bar hours earlier for the 8:30 a.m. women’s puck drop, said bar owner Callum Woods, even with the team already guaranteed a spot in the quarterfinals.

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“It’s great to have the Olympics back, best on best, it’s fun” he said.

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Fans were relieved to see Canada recover a scoring touch and defensive prowess that was missing against the U.S. two days earlier. Emily Clark scored twice, Kristin O’Neill had a goal and assist and Jenn Gardiner and Daryl Watts each contributed a goal for Canada against the Finns.

Woods, the bar owner, was eager to see a high-stakes rematch with the U.S. later in the tournament.

“Hopefully we’ll tune up well so we can beat the Yanks for the gold medal game,” he said. “I hate losing to the Yanks at hockey.”

Next up was the men’s team with a 10:40 a.m. puck drop. Captain Sidney Crosby is on the hunt for his third gold medal after defeating Sweden in the 2014 Sochi Games.

NHL players were kept out of the 2018 games over travel, insurance and marketing rights disputes between the league and Olympic organizers. A deal to participate in the 2022 games was torpedoed when surging COVID-19 cases postponed dozens of NHL games, prompting the league to use the intended Olympic break for their rescheduled games instead.

At the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena in Italy, Canada was greeted by whistles and boos from a boisterous Czech-heavy crowd. Back in Toronto, it was all cheers at Dock Ellis as fans watched NHLers in Olympic action for the first time in 4,373 days.

“It’s really exciting to see some of the best players in the world go against each other,” said Kylie Banks from beside the bar pool table.

The team did not disappoint. Teenage phenom Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring before Mark Stone, Bo Horvat, Nathan MacKinnon and Nick Suzuki extended the lead.

Donning an Olympic jersey emblazoned with the Maple Leaf, Nick Texeira was dreaming of gold in the corner of the bar.

“I think we’re going to win it all.”

The pints were flowing early at Dock Ellis. Toronto allows bars to serve alcohol starting at 6 a.m. for the duration of the Winter Games to better align with the start of daily competition in Italy.

“It’s good for the city, it’s good for the bars,” said Ted Liptay, from his perch on a stool. “Everyone’s on good behaviour here.”

Bar owner Woods says he would have opened regardless of the relaxed rules.

“It’s all about community and friends and pride and a good time,” he said.

“Meet new friends, make new friends, show up with your friends.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 12, 2026.