Poulin Regrets Hiding Sexuality in CBC Interview

The three-time Olympic gold medalist said denying who she was affected her as an athlete and her family relationships.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hockey

Poulin Regrets Hiding Sexuality in CBC Interview

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Marie-Philip Poulin said she regrets hiding as a gay athlete in a CBC interview on the new season of The Assembly. The three-time Olympic gold medalist said accepting herself improved her performance as an athlete.

Why it matters

Poulin's comments add a high-profile Canadian hockey voice to the discussion of athletes living openly as LGBTQ people. Her account of isolating herself from family offers a personal view of the cost of concealment.

Poulin came out publicly in May 2023 at age 32, after six years with Laura Stacey, and the two married in September 2024. The source provides no statistics measuring performance changes tied to her disclosure.

The players

Marie-Philip Poulin

Poulin is a Canadian hockey star and three-time Olympic gold medalist who plays for the Montreal Victoire in the PWHL.

Laura Stacey

Stacey is a Canadian hockey player and Poulin's partner, who is also a teammate on the Montreal Victoire.

CBC

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation is the national public broadcaster that aired The Assembly.

The details

On The Assembly, Poulin answered a panelist's question about denying her sexuality by saying she denied it, tried to hide it, and isolated herself. She said her family supported her first, and that the people she isolated herself from most were her family.

May 2023: Poulin came out publicly and announced her engagement to Laura Stacey on Instagram.
September 2024: Poulin and Stacey married.
November 10, 2026: Poulin's CBC comments were published in an Outsports interview.

Season Trajectory

Poulin's public statements come as she is sidelined from Canada's team at the current IIHF Women's World Championships in Denmark with a knee injury. Her three Olympic golds make her one of the most decorated players in Canadian women's hockey history.

Fans following Canada's women's national team will have to track Poulin's absence due to her knee injury at the IIHF Women's World Championships. Her PWHL status with the Montreal Victoire remains relevant for fantasy and standings purposes.

The takeaway

Poulin's account suggests that concealing one's identity can carry personal costs beyond public perception. Her remarks offer a reminder that openness may also support an athlete's performance.