The Sheet with Jeff Marek - On the Sheet: Cassie Campbell-Pascall with An In-Depth Olympic Hockey Breakdown

Episode Date: February 9, 2026

Jeff Marek is joined live from Milan by Cassie Campbell-Pascall as the 2026 Winter Olympics officially get underway on the ice. Cassie breaks down the opening day of the women’s hockey tournament, including how Canada women's national ice hockey team looked in its tournament opener against the Switzerland women's national ice hockey team, the early impressions from the United States women's national ice hockey team, and what to watch for as the medal race begins to take shape.Leave a voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/TheSheetEmail us: [e-mail] TO OUR SPONSORS!!👍🏼 Fan Duel: https://www.fanduel.com/👍🏼Uber Eats: https://www.ubereats.com/caReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!If you liked this, check out:🚨 OTT - Coming in Hot Sens | https://www.youtube.com/c/thewallyandmethotshow🚨 TOR - LeafsNation | https://www.youtube.com/@theleafsnation401🚨 EDM - OilersNation | https://www.youtube.com/@Oilersnationdotcom🚨 VAN - CanucksArmy | https://www.youtube.com/@Canucks_Army🚨 CGY - FlamesNation | https://www.youtube.com/@FNBarnBurner🚨 Daily Faceoff Fantasy & Betting | www.youtube.com/@DFOFantasyandBetting____________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us on ⬇️Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/daily_faceoff💻 Website: https://www.dailyfaceoff.com🐦 Follow on twitter: https://x.com/DailyFaceoff💻 Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dailyfaceoffDaily Faceoff Merch:https://nationgear.ca/collections/daily-faceoffReach out to [e-mail] to connect with our Sales Team and discuss opportunities to partner with us!#TheSheet #JeffMarek #CassieCampbellPascall #TylerYaremchuk #MilanCortina2026 #OlympicHockey #WomensHockey #MensHockey #TeamCanada #TeamUSA #HockeyOlympics #DailyFaceoff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the meantime, we default to Milan where we find international superstar Cassie Campbell, Pascall, standing by hockey analysts covering the games. Hey, Cass, how are? Oh, look at you. I know. I'm going to give it to me. No, this is good. This is the timing we're at. And I, you know, I am not glam girl, but I'm being glanced.

I just love this for you, Cass. So hang on. Give us a walking the runways of Milan and Paris and, well, you know, Jeff, last time I was in Nice, give us the scene set right now, Cass. Come on, what are you doing? Well, the scene set is what you see is what you get. I mean, you know, things are going downhill for me, so I need all the help I can get to get prepared if we're on air. But, yeah, just so much fun.

I don't know if you heard I got stuck in a washroom yesterday, too, and it was about 20 minutes before we were supposed to go out to air. and Claire Hannah helped me out. And seven Italian people were there as well with no tools to, you know, fix the door or anything. But I managed to, you know, McGiver myself and get out of the bathroom. And, you know, as you know, this is such a grind and so much fun. It is.

It's the best time. I mean, I've had the on-site Olympic experience only once in 2008 in China, which was fantastic. And I'll be telling those stories until I, you know, make my way to the crematorium. but give us the story of getting locked in the bathroom. Before we get to the women's and men's side of the hockey tournament, what happened, Cass? Hey, I just went to the bathroom, you know, like we all do, and I went to unlock the bathroom, and you could tell the lock just lost its connection. And it just was turning and turning and turning.

And I stayed patient. I stayed patient, Jeff. I called Claire Hannah. She had help on the way. and then I just simply was sort of, you know, jigging a lock and moving it. And next thing, you know, it made its connection again, and about 15 minutes later it was out. The only good thing was it was freezing in the arena, but it was really warm in the washroom. So I actually had a little moment where I got some heat.

And, yeah, you know, and it's a good time. It's so fun here. I'm working with Haley Salveen and Claire Hanna and Cheryl Bounder and Kenzie Lalonde. And it's just been such a blast to be back. again on this side of things and working with my old friends, as you know, at CBC, the original Hockey Night in Canada, all the producers and the great people behind the scenes. I just love it. One thing I want to get out of the way right away, I sort of mentioned out the top of the

program before you joined us, why everybody should know the name Saskia Maur. Now, early on in this tournament, she has become, for many of us, the story. Switzerland outshot 55 to 6. Now the final score is Canada for Switzerland, no score. But she came out of it, the star, and this is afterwards ushered into duty after the starting netminder for Switzerland had the neurovirus.

And so couldn't go. So she gets ushered in back-to-back games. And listen, I know it didn't work out great for Switzerland against Canada, but what a story she was in that game for Switzerland. Well, yeah, you get your opportunity, right? And you better take advantage of it. And she definitely did that and kept Switzerland, you know, somewhat in the game.

I mean, the three chances that they did get were high quality, high danger chances. But incredible. And that's what the Olympics is about. And you know, that can happen on the men's side, too, where a goalie stands on their head and, you know, has an upset of a higher-ranked team. And, you know, it was good for Canada with it. and stay really for that second line, if you call them with NERBOTts and affiliates.

You know, we're going to really have to be taking this Olympic Games for Canada to be successful. Nice to see them for five. Okay, Cass, we're going to reconnect. We're going to reconnect with Cassie there. She's having some issues in Milan right now, getting your feathers taken care of.

And we'll get back to Cassie here in a couple of moments. A couple of things on the, on the women's side too, specifically for Canada, maybe to some extent as well, and I want to get into this with Cassie as well, it feels like on the Canadian side, this may be, at least it feels like it, a transition tournament,

as much as they're certainly competing for gold, and that's the expectation from hockey Canada always. It feels like this is the tournament where, for lack of a better term, the Marie-Philippe-Pulang group transfers over to the Serafilié group and that next generation of athletes. No one knows what happens after this tournament with Marie-Philippe Poulin. No one really knows what happens with Renata Fast, who was, I thought, the best player on

the ice against Switzerland as well, Natalie Spooner, etc. I don't know how many more Olympic cycles. Some of these athletes still have in them, or whether it's by desire or by way of just getting forced out. But it does very much feel like this might end up being a transition. tournament where we start to see the passing of the torch from one generation to the next. And listen, you see that on the American side too. Now, Hillary Knight is still playing out of her mind and still playing elite level hockey.

And she was great on the weekend as well. But I'll be curious to see what Cassie's thoughts are on that when we get her back. You know, it's interesting talking about the Olympic experience. And as I mentioned, I've only had, I only worked, I mean, I worked studio for a bunch of them, but only on site for one. And one of my favorite stories to tell is about one of my favorite Canadian athletes of all time and that's Clara Hughes.

And when I was in Beijing in Media Village, her room was next to mine and like the walls are paper thin. So a couple of things. Cassie, I was just in the middle of telling a Clara Hughes story. Do you mind if I, I want to get your thoughts on Claire if you know her as well. So, okay, so in Beijing,

so she was right beside me. And in media village, the walls are paper thin. And so I remember I would get up early to go have breakfast at like 5.30 in the morning, maybe 5 o'clock in the morning. And all I would hear from her room is zzz. I'm like, okay. And so I'd go work out or go eat breakfast and come back, have a shower, make notes and all this. And honestly, for four hours, every single morning, all I could hear from her room was like this.

this buzzing, this humming. And eventually one day we're just at the IBC, the International Broadcast Center, and I said, Claire, this is none of my business, but like, what are you doing from five to nine every single morning with this buzzing? And she said, oh, I brought my bike. And it's the only time I can ride.

And so from like five o'clock to nine o'clock, there's like the dead. And she's brought, she's working for CBC too, right? Broadcast, brought, doing, work in the games. But for like four hours every morning, there's Clara Hughes and her enormous quads on the bike. Apropos of nothing, just one of my favorite stories about one of my favorite athletes the country's ever produced.

You have a thought on Clara Hughes. Yeah, just, you know, a remarkable athlete teammate, if you will, because we went to a few games, we overlap together, and just a remarkable person. And I just love how grounded she is. You know, she's often a person. I'll go to her Instagram just to get grounded sometimes. and, you know, remarkable, obviously, summer and winter Olympian. And, yeah, she's just one of my favorite Olympians at all time.

One of my favorite people, hands down, that I've ever met in sports. So as we tried to reconnect, one of the things that I was wondering about, which I think we all have, you know, legitimate curiosity about, is this A for Team Canada and maybe to an extent the United States as well, kind of a transitional games in that I'm not sure how many more Olympic cycles, Marie-Philippe Poulin, Renata Fas, Natalie Spooner, still have in them by way of either what they want to do with their lives or by way of the competition coming up next is super elite.

And I still remember, I was telling this story a couple of days ago, I remember talking to you before the 2010 games in Vancouver. I was at orientation camp in Calgary. I think you and I were out to dinner. And I said, like, who should I be watching for of the young players? And the first name out of your mouth is Marie Philippe Palin. Like, this one's going to be, this one's going to be a star. She's special.

All of it. I remember watching her skate and the guys were coming in. Vinila Cavalier came over and said, like, who's that over there? I don't think she was wearing 29. So he didn't say he was 29. Might have been 15. Who's that one over there? And I said, oh, it's Marie Philippe Lan.

I gave her the, I gave him the rap sheet that you gave me. This is all her story. And he watched about 10 minutes. He goes, that's an effing player. And then left. And I always remembered that. like game recognizes game great players recognize other great players does it feel like i don't know i don't want to i don't ever want to bet against marie filippelam but does it feel like this is a transition

from the the prulans to the filiase yeah i think to some degree i mean listen mary philippe philene is still on the top line you know she's still a great player that's it she hasn't relinquished that position and um you know i i don't know if she's going to play another olympics i think that's be determined to be honest with you as you know she sorts through what her and her partner want to do and family and life but i i think the big thing about this olympics is she's still very capable of being the MVP of these olympic games but i think for canada to be successful they're going to need some depth scoring she's going to need some help this time and you know she can't be it's it can't be just her and her line mates that are the ones that are the force

down the stretch and she's just a remarkable person a remarkable leader you know the first captain Canadian male or female to captain three Olympic game team canadas and you know what this generation has been through the resiliency they've shown the adversity that they've been through over the last you know going through an Olympics with COVID the disappointing world championships results at times against the United States and she's remained consistent and this group has continued to get better and better and really getting better at dealing with adversity and she's a big part of that

I mean, she's a great leader. I think personally the greatest leader, the greatest player that this country has ever seen male or female. 100%. You know, she's going to get it done. There's no question about it, but I think she's going to need some help in order for Canada to be successful. There has never been male or female, a more clutch player in the history of the game period than Marie Philippe Poulant. I'm curious your thoughts on the pools, and specifically the power pool, the power pool that Canada and, and the United States are in alongside Finland,

Czechia, and Switzerland, the B-Pool, Japan, Sweden, Germany, Italy, and France. Now, the philosophy behind it is, the B-Pool are still, countries that are in the B-POL, still very much lagging behind the others, but in order for, I suppose, the WIHF here to create more of a hot-house effect,

the teams that have taken that next step are in with Canada and the United States. and that is Finland, Chequia, and Switzerland. I'm not sure if they continue with the idea of the power pool, but what did you think of it when you first saw it, and what do you think of it now? Yeah, I mean, I think it's been great for our game. It's kept the lopsided scores that we used to see in the past.

You know, I remember in 2006, we beat Italy 16-0, and we got criticized for it. Obviously, it was their first Olympics in women's ice hockey, but I will tell you, after that game, that crowd gave them a standing ovation. They were crying in the handshape line as they shook her hands. They were so proud of that moment. And now to watch 20 years later,

and they potentially could be in a quarterfinal game here. I'm not 100% sure of all the results at this time, but there is potential for that. And that's what the growth of the women's game has done in, you know, what, 20, 25, 30 years. And, you know, Sweden, I think if you're Sweden, you're starting to think, hey, how do we continue to get better if we're still playing in that B pool?

We want to play against the best. And so we're starting to see the gap close, which is really important, I think, for the future potential of changing, you know, the pool system and the way it goes. But it's done a great job of eliminating some of those difficult scores and those, you know, high-end 16-0-17-0 scores. It's made, I think, the parity stronger.

I think you're seeing the other countries get stronger. For me, it has to change at the federal. You know, I talked to some of the federations as I'm, you know, preparing for these Olympics and they're saying, yeah, you know, this is what we need to do to win bronze. And I'm like, what? What do you need to do to win gold? And that has to be the mindset that these federations start to have rather than let's let's see how we can win bronze. Why not go for for gold? And once that change happens, I think we're going to see a better game overall. Which other federations do you have this? What do we do to win gold mentality? about them. I mean, look, like, Finland's a really good program now. You know, I can still remember, I can still remember Kim Martins, almost, you know, Kim Martinez sticking at the countries too. Who has that mentality of, yeah, sure, Canada and the United States are favorites,

but that's our goal, is to beat them. Hey, I think Czechia can upset if they get to the semifinals, there's no question about it the way that they've played and they continue to get better. And, you know, and even though Sweden's coming out of the pool B, I watched that game yesterday. And I got to tell you, they're big, their defense are really good, they're fast, they can shoot. They have some high-end offensive talent, Hilda Spenson, the youngster from 19, goes to Ohio State. I know Tessa Bonum would be really proud. I mentioned that.

Listen, I think they can potentially do some damage, too. So I honestly believe this is going to be the best talented. Olympic games we've ever seen in women's hockey, the most parody. And I give a lot of credit, Jeff, and I know I work for the league, but I give a lot of credit to the PWH and the fact that a lot of these players have the ability to come over, train with the best, practice with the best. And I think it's only going to get better, but this has been a big raise in the level of the game. I don't like honestly, Kay, regardless of your position with the PWHL, it's one of the

places that I wanted to get to, which essentially is the presence of the PWA. PWHL and players from all over the world playing in it, and I think we're still waiting for more of an exodus from a country like Finland, for example, can only help. Can only help the international game. And I think we're going to see the byproduct of that at these first Olympic games. Like, of all the countries that are out there now, which country do you think got the most, how we call it this way? Which country got the PWHL bump the most?

I think check, yeah. You know, you look 11 players total that, you know, play in the PWHL. Their coach is there, you know, in Carla McLeod, the great Carla McLeod, good friend, former teammates. And, you know, I do. They play a physical game. They're not intimidated. You know, you think of Colton Cova and leading the league and goal scored. You know, I watch the New York Sirens and I watch her be, you know, they're up one-nothing late in a game,

or up 2-1, and there she is, she's out there and best on best. And, you know, I think for them, it's about the belief that they can win. And, you know, even I heard Alina Mueller prior to the Olympics for Switzerland saying, you know, I play with these guys, and I'm paraphrasing a little bit. I play with everyone, but I now know we can compete and we can potentially beat them. And that's the attitude, I think, these organizations have to have, you know, federations have to have, players have to have, in order to take the next jump. Okay, let me ask you about one thing.

I was talking to Aaron Ambrose about this before she went to Italy here on the show. And actually, I think she might have brought it up. I don't even think I even considered it. But she brought up the idea that once upon a time, like I'll focus on your era. Like when you played, we all knew how much you hated the United States. And we all know how much the United States hated you. That was obvious. It was like the old school NHL where teams wouldn't travel together.

They would take separate trains. They stayed away from each other. They were fined if they were caught fraternizing. Oh, you'd play with the New York Rangers. You were caught having a beer with someone from the Boston Bruins. That's a $50 fine. Like, that's how much everybody was separated. So on the one hand, there's this flourishing of other countries

and the development of their players, Canada, the United States as well. We have to mention that as well. But at the same time, does it diminish the hatred that has existed between the United States and Canada? I mean, I said to what I'm asking is, does it still burn as powerfully as it did with your group cast? Because anyone that watched you guys play, like, dude, it was nasty. It was nasty between you guys. Yeah, I mean, hatred is a strong word, obviously, and I've become really good friends with so many of those American players. but yeah, knowing there really was a dislike and, you know, I think it still exists.

Off the ice, maybe not so much, but on the ice, as soon as you put the jersey on, you go and you start the game, the hatred is there, the dislike is there. That's probably a better word. But off the ice, there's just more camaraderie. The players know each other from different countries. They go to NCAA together, use sport, or now they play in the PWHL. So it's, yeah, it's still a great rivalry. I honestly believe, and I'll say this time and time again, without the U.S.-Canada rivalry, women's hockey would not be where it is today.

I think it's given us a platform. It's the best rivalry in sports as far as what it did for its particular sport. But yeah, I'm friends with them now, so that's good. I got over it. But I love to count the amount of golds that we were able to win. And that was one of the reasons why I went back to the program four years ago, five years ago was, you know, when Canada went to the bronze medal game, I was like, this doesn't sit well with me. You know, what's the problem here? And the expectation sitting at home

watching was gold. And so why are we now winning a bronze medal at the World Championship? And that ate at me. And I think it ate at a lot of the former players. And so it was great to go back and have a small, small, small, small role in changing that. And then, you know, watching this group now. but the dislike is still there as soon as the jersey comes on, as soon as the game starts, there's no question about it. Okay, we're going to be checking in with you regularly

throughout the games and very much looking forward to that. Let me ask you a couple of thoughts on what you think this tournament's going to look like from the men's side. You know, Greg Wischinskin and I were talking about this the other day. You know, it seems laughable that the whole world is now. Oh, you know what? The best international rivalry is Canada versus the United States,

and this is a great new rivalry. while this has been the rivalry on the women's side for a number of years. But what do you think it looks like on the men's side this time around? Sweden's banged up, we know that. Finland doesn't have bark-off, we get it. But outside of Canada, U.S., what do you look for on the men's side of the tournament? Your feathers look great, by the way. Yeah, thanks.

Sorry about this. You guys, the time change just got to me here. And you know, Jeffrey, I'm the least glamorous person there is. I don't know what that cast. Yeah, no, I, like, you hear some of the management from the Swedish men's team. And they're like, yeah, we're hearing all about this Canada U.S. final. And we're just going to sit back and listen to the narrative. But, you know, that's motivating them.

You know, I think Canada has a tough start playing games cheque. You never know what can happen there. And the Melka's been playing really good for Utah, or Dostal. I just saw him last week. And in Anaheim, he's been great. And, again, anything can happen. And, you know, the focus of that American commercial is Canada. And then Canada comes back and they have their commercial against the USA.

But I think if any one of those two teams take any game for granted thinking ahead, there could be an upset on both sides. It's highly unlikely. I mean, I predict a Canada U.S. final, but you just never know what can happen, especially in the quarterfinals where it's one game takes all. What do you – first of all, any surprises on the Canadian side by way of – roster selection. I think a lot of eyebrows raised. Not just that Tom Wilson

is there. Like Tom Wilson leads the Washington Capitals and scoring. Tom Wilson's been a really good player for the Washington Capitals. I know everyone still has the Wilson blinders about suspensions and hits and all that, but this guy has turned himself into a high-level player. But initially playing here on a line with Connor McDavid and Macklin

Celebrini, any surprises for you on the men's side of the Canadian roster? Listen, you know what? I'll tell you why Tom Wilson's on that line. Do you remember the first Canada U.S. game at the Four Nations when Charlie McAvoy was in the lineup. Remember, he missed the final, but he was in that initial game, and the huge

hit that he laid on Connor McDavid along the coming down the right side. I personally think that's why Tom Wilson is there. Charlie McAvoy and Quinn Hughes, Quinn Hughes, obviously not the physical side, but those were two defensive men the U.S. didn't have in the final game. And

they have them now. And I think Tom Wilson's on that line to sort of combat that physicality that McAvoy can bring. You know, for me, Jeffrey, I think that that fourth line for Canada seems a little strange for me. You know, obviously they're going to miss Sorrelli on that line. They have Horvatt, Reinhardt, and Hegel penciled in. But I don't understand, yeah, I don't understand the identity of that line. And so I wouldn't be surprised if we see Sam Bennett come in and bringing that physical dimension on that line. And I'm so glad that he was brought back onto the team. And obviously, you never want to see someone get hurt. but I was really shocked that he was left on the team. And then it'll be interesting to watch Celebrini and McDavid. You know, everyone's thinking Celebrini and Crosby because they played together at the worlds and they're similar players.

But he has such a high hockey IQ. His two-way game, I think, will help McDavid as well. And I'm looking forward to see how that line fares going up against the top physical pairing that the U.S. will provide and, you know, other teams. And, yeah, I'm looking forward to, Just seeing how physical they allow this game to, you know, this game at the Olympics to be compared to the NHL. There's just so many factors in that regard that sometimes things can be called a little bit differently.

But look at the roster. Like, look at the roster. How can you go wrong? Like, you have so much talent. I think so much versatility on the roster, too. That's why Seth Jarvis is there. He brings a versatile element, so to Sam Bennett. And, yeah, it's going to be really fun to watch.

I'm so excited for best on best. It's, it's, there's nothing like it, and you're a big part of it for a number of years and picked up gold medals in the process. Cassie, thanks so much. I know you got business to take care of. Games coming up this afternoon. You'll be well.

We'll check back soon and regularly. All right. I'll try not to be in the makeup chair next time. All right. Or locked in the bathroom cast. What a trip so far. It'd be quieter. It'd be quieter.

It's a good point. Fair enough. All right. Well, we'll figure out where you are next time. We're in our new Where's Cassie segment. You'd be good. Say hi to Haley and the whole crew for me. All right.

Thanks, my friend. See ya.