MILAN – Canada’s Claire Thompson missed out on the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), but after pausing her studies, she is back on the ice with Olympic gold very much on her mind at this month’s Milano Cortina Games.

Thompson made headlines in Beijing four years ago, helping Canada win gold while setting a record for most points by a women’s defenseman at a single Games and earning a spot on the tournament all-star team.

The first fully professional women’s hockey league in North America was announced in August 2023, with the opening puck dropped in early 2024—timing that forced Thompson to sit out.

"The league came together very quickly," she told Reuters.

"It was never my intention to take a full season off hockey, but by the time the league came together late that fall and then started in January, I was already enrolled in my classes and it wasn’t possible to do both."

Watching from afar while studying medicine, Thompson had to weigh her next move.

"The league did really well, so being on the sidelines that first year and only being able to watch it happen was definitely disappointing," she said.

"It really solidified that I did want to put my studies on pause and come back to play. My sights were always set on the 2026 Olympics, making sure I was as prepared and the best athlete I could be. Everything was planned around the Games, but I also wanted to be part of the PWHL."

For Thompson, a professional career in hockey once seemed unimaginable.

"Growing up, I could never imagine a league like the PWHL where we’re selling out NHL arenas, with full staff and full-time support for athletes," the 28-year-old said.

"I would have never thought something like this was possible. Having the financial backing to hire the best people in every department and have them available to athletes at all times is a huge step forward and really enhances the hockey we’re able to play."

A New Chapter in Vancouver

Thompson won the Walter Cup with Minnesota Frost in her first season and now plays with expansion club Vancouver Goldeneyes, who have the highest average attendance in the league during their inaugural campaign.

"Something that’s really helped draw attention is the Pacific Coliseum, the rink where we play," Thompson explained.

"We’re the only team in that venue. When fans walk in, there’s Goldeneyes stuff everywhere. It really feels like you’re at a Goldeneyes game, which is a special and unique environment that keeps fans coming back night after night."

With just over a week to go until Milano Cortina, PWHL players are in league action, a different scenario compared to previous Games where Thompson and her Canadian teammates would spend months in training camp together.

"An advantage of the professional league is that all players are able to compete at the highest level leading into the Games," Thompson said.

"It’s great to have best-on-best women’s hockey as our lead-up. We’re going into these Olympics chasing gold. That’s always the goal and it remains true."

-Reporting by Trevor Stynes; Editing by Ken Ferris/Reuters