Charles HamelinB次元官网网址檚 teammates were speculating recently about who might carry CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag into the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

Hamelin had a hard time keeping a straight face.

Marie-Philip Poulin was finally able to break the good news earlier this week to her teammates, who wrapped their team captain up in a celebratory group hug.

CanadaB次元官网网址檚 womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey captain, and one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 most decorated short-track speedskaters were named CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag-bearers for FridayB次元官网网址檚 opening ceremony, and the two shared a laugh about how hard it was to keep a lid on the good news.

B次元官网网址淧eople on my team were discussing it, B次元官网网址楨h, who do you think itB次元官网网址檚 going to be?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Hamelin said, with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淚 was like, B次元官网网址業t could be anyone. Maybe itB次元官网网址檚 you.B次元官网网址� It was just fun to keep it to myself B次元官网网址� I think I told them two or three days ago, and people were really, really happy for me.B次元官网网址�

Poulin said sharing the news with her team was B次元官网网址渁 nice moment. I think the reaction said it all. It was very special.B次元官网网址�

In a country that churns out Winter Olympic stars, Poulin and Hamelin are two of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 finest, with nine Olympic appearances and eight medals between them.

Poulin, a 30-year-old from Beauceville, Que., scored the game-winning goals at both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. Known as B次元官网网址淐aptain Clutch,B次元官网网址� sheB次元官网网址檚 also a two-time world champion, scoring the golden goal for Canada at the 2021 world tournament.

Poulin follows in the footsteps of Hayley Wickenheiser (in 2014) and Danielle Goyette (2006), both womenB次元官网网址檚 hockey stars who carried the Maple Leaf.

B次元官网网址淚 was lucky enough to see them play, but also being able to play with Hayley. SheB次元官网网址檚 paved the way for all women,B次元官网网址� Poulin said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 honoured to be one of them, to be a model for the young ones coming in. It is very special. Right now itB次元官网网址檚 slowly kicking in, that feeling, and itB次元官网网址檚 pretty special.B次元官网网址�

Hamelin, a 37-year-old from Sainte-Julie Que., is a winner of five Olympic medals, including three gold, tying him for CanadaB次元官网网址檚 most decorated male winter Olympian.

B次元官网网址淚 never said to myself, B次元官网网址極ne day I want to be the flag-bearer of Canada,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� Hamelin said. B次元官网网址淏ut for me to be here is the greatest honour of all. And to see all the young kids and being one of the leaders of the team, for me I take my role seriously.B次元官网网址�

Retired long-track speedskating star Catriona Le May Doan, who is CanadaB次元官网网址檚 chef de mission in Beijing, delivered the good news to the duo a couple of weeks ago, saying the Zoom call to them was B次元官网网址渙ne of the best things IB次元官网网址檝e been able to do, and it was very emotional.B次元官网网址�

Le May Doan carried the flag into the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

B次元官网网址淏eing named flag-bearer continues to be one of my most cherished and proud Olympic moments of my career,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 remember walking into that stadium, it was five months after 9/11. There was a lot of things that weB次元官网网址檇 overcome in 2002. Walking into that stadium in Salt Lake City, it will be 20 years this week, itB次元官网网址檚 hard to believe, it still brings me chills.B次元官网网址�

Athletes had their fair share to overcome to get to Beijing, which will open amid strict health and safety protocols around COVID-19. After two years of training facility closures and travel restrictions, just testing negative to travel to Beijing was a huge and unexpected hurdle to clear.

Plus, the spectre of ChinaB次元官网网址檚 alleged human rights violations hang over these Games.

Poulin and Hamelin were asked if they had intended to march in the ceremony regardless, and if theyB次元官网网址檇 considered not marching as a gesture to the human rights issues.

B次元官网网址淚 just think that we worked really hard for so long,B次元官网网址� Hamelin said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 in my fifth Games, (Poulin) is in her fourth. To have the honour to march in the opening ceremonies, as all the athletes would do, is something unique, itB次元官网网址檚 something that we look forward to for four years. ItB次元官网网址檚 like a little gift that people give us.

B次元官网网址淚n my mind, if you have a chance to do it, you have to do it.B次元官网网址�

Ice dancers Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir carried CanadaB次元官网网址檚 flag into the opening ceremony four years ago in Pyeongchang, while basketball veteran Miranda Ayim and rugby sevens player Nathan Hirayama shared flag duties at the Tokyo Olympics this past summer.

The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday, 7 a.m. ET, at the National Stadium B次元官网网址� or the BirdB次元官网网址檚 Nest B次元官网网址� in Beijing.

B次元官网网址擳he Canadian Press