A small toy loon, gifted by a fan, has taken on the role of mascot or lucky charm for Canada’s women’s hockey team at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The loon was presented to forward Emma Maltais before Canada’s first game against Switzerland on February 7 by a fan at the Milano Rho Ice Hockey Arena whom she had never met. Following this, Canada secured a 4-0 victory during the match.
Affectionately named “Wolf Bird” by the team, complete with its own nametag, the toy is a reference to a Russian hockey player’s encounter with the iconic Canadian bird on the TV show “Heated Rivalry,” where he is startled by the loon’s eerie call.
The toy loon is equipped with a call that mimics a real loon, prompting players to showcase their best imitations, with Erin Ambrose and Ella Shelton reportedly having the most accurate calls.
While the loon’s status as a lucky charm is uncertain, the team progressed to the semifinals after defeating Germany 5-1 but suffered a significant 5-0 loss to the U.S. earlier in the week.
Should the loon prove to be lucky, it would not be the first instance of Canada’s Olympic hockey team benefiting from a fortunate loon. At the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Games, a loonie hidden under the ice at the arena brought luck to both Canadian Olympic hockey teams, leading them to gold medals.
This historic loonie is now exhibited at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and “Wolf Bird” may receive similar reverence if it contributes to Team Canada’s quest for gold at Milano Cortina 2026.
