CAPTAIN CLUTCH

WHEN THE BIG GAME IS ON THE LINE, THERE’S NO ONE, MAN OR WOMAN, MORE LIKELY TO DELIVER THE DAGGER THAN MARIE-PHILIP POULIN.

There’s no one in the game quite like Marie-Philip Poulin. The 28-year-old center is the most dangerous weapon in women’s hockey, a player blessed with a superstar skill set and the work ethic of a gritty, fourth-line grinder.

At the pro level, she’s the face of the game. Poulin captured the Canadian Women’s Hockey League scoring title and was named MVP in each of the past three seasons. But it’s on the international stage where she’s become a legend. Poulin scored both goals in Canada’s 2-0 over the United States in the gold-medal game at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Four years later, with gold on the line in Sochi, she was the star of Canada’s stunningly improbable comeback over the Americans. Poulin scored the game-tying goal with 54.6 seconds to go in regulation – just moments after a U.S. attempt to ice the game with an empty netter tinked off the post – then sealed the deal with the overtime game-winner in Canada’s 3-2 victory.

Today, the native of Quebec City should be racking up stats in the prime of her career. Instead, she is more likely to be seen on TV in commercials for Gatorade or Tide than on the ice. Along with the other top stars of the women’s game, Poulin made the decision to sit out the 2019-20 season in an effort to unify the sport and find backing for a single, sustainable pro league where players can be paid a living wage.

Poulin sat down with Beckett Hockey after her signing session at the 2019 Fall Sport Card and Memorabilia Expo in Toronto to talk about leadership, Sidney Crosby, the future of the women’s game and why it means so much to appear on hockey cards.

BECKETT HOCKEY: To many fans, it seemed like you showed up as a fully formed superstar at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. Obviously, a lot went into your development before that event. Who impacted you the most?

MARIE-PHILIP POULIN: Obviously, my family. I was lucky that my parents gave me the chance to play hockey. They always made the time to drive me to the rink for practice and games while they were doing the same for my brother, so they were always busy with us. I’m very grateful they gave me the chance to fall in love with the game. And I had so many great mentors along the way. In 2010, I was lucky enough to live with Kim St-Pierre, Charline Labonte and Caroline Ouellette. They were like three big sisters. They took me under their wings and taught me