Canadian forward Sarah Fillier is expected to play at the women's world hockey championship in Denmark, which begins on Friday, even though she is listed as day to day with an upper-body injury.
Canada general manager Danièle Sauvageau said it is not yet clear when Fillier will return to the lineup. Canada opens against Sweden on Friday at 9 a.m. ET.
"Things are looking good, so it's a question of day by day," Sauvageau told CBC Sports on Tuesday. "It's on a good track, a positive track."
Fillier, who plays for the PWHL's New York Sirens, left Friday's pre-tournament game against the United States after going into the boards awkwardly. She appeared to clutch her right shoulder or arm as she left, and the team has described the injury as upper body. Canada lost that game 4-0.
Canada relies on Fillier to drive offence on the top line and the first-unit power play, according to CBC Sports. Sauvageau called her a "young veteran" on a Canadian team that is getting younger. At the Olympics, Fillier finished second in team points with six in seven games, behind Daryl Watts.
Fillier scored the winning goal and added an assist in Canada's 5-3 pre-tournament win over the U.S. last Wednesday. That result ended an eight-game American winning streak dating to February 2025.
Alexia Aubin, a 20-year-old forward from Colgate University, is practising with the team in Denmark. CBC Sports reported that the decision to bring her as an alternate was made before Fillier was hurt.
An alternate can replace an injured player at any point in the tournament, provided the injured player cannot return for the rest of it. Aubin was also brought to gain experience as Canada rebuilds for the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps. "We want to expose as many players as possible in order to be the most prepared," Sauvageau said.
In Friday's loss, the Americans outshot Canada 32-13, and Canada's penalty kill allowed two goals on five opportunities. Sauvageau described the game as an exhibition in which the team needed to try different things and build cohesion, adding that the U.S. played very well, as expected.
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