Close to four years ago, during the pursuit of an Olympic gold medal by the Canadian women’s hockey team in Beijing, a young Chloe Primerano would diligently record the late-night games at her residence.
She would request her family to withhold the game scores until she could view them after her school hours.
Expressing her aspirations, Primerano stated, “I always dreamt of participating in the Olympics, but witnessing that moment ignited a stronger desire within me to strive towards reaching the Olympic stage one day.”
Currently at 18 years old, Primerano is among the 30 contenders vying for a spot on the Olympic team set to compete in Italy in February to defend their gold medal. Balancing her pursuit with her NCAA season at the University of Minnesota, Primerano, now in her second college season after early high school graduation, is dedicated to earning her place on the team.
Recognized for her advanced hockey intellect at a young age, Primerano is now immersed in the training and lifestyle of the players she admired just a few years ago. During the team’s initial training session in Calgary, Primerano resided with fellow players Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey.
Praising Primerano’s talent, Captain Poulin referred to her as “a great kid.” If Primerano secures a spot on the team, she will become the youngest player to do so since Poulin achieved the feat in 2010.
Poulin commended Primerano’s playing style, emphasizing her exceptional skills in handling the puck, shooting, and skating. Poulin expressed excitement for Primerano’s future and the promising path ahead.
Embracing a unique approach for the Olympic year, the Canadian team has opted to live in rented homes instead of hotels to maximize their time together. Previously, Olympic hopefuls would gather in Calgary for centralized training months before the Games, engaging in numerous preparatory games, often exceeding 30 matches.
Transition from Centralization
Since the inception of the PWHL in the summer of 2023, Hockey Canada has been reimagining the formation of the Olympic team, balancing chemistry and cohesion achieved during centralization without overburdening players gearing up for a league season.
This strategic evolution includes considerations on player ice time, the impact of Olympic camps on summer development, and overall athlete preparation for what could be a demanding hockey season.
General Manager of the Canadian team, Gina Kingsbury, highlighted the complexity of managing player health, volumes, and loads during the PWHL season, with input from multiple experts to optimize athlete performance.
The team has structured three training blocks nationwide this fall, with the second underway in Toronto at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, home to the Toronto Sceptres. The final training block is scheduled to kick off in Montreal at the end of October.
