MILAN – Dr. Laura Bennion and her husband, Dr. Ian Auld, are accustomed to periods of separation due to their demanding roles as physicians with Hockey Canada. This month, they find themselves together in Milan for the 2026 Olympic Games, yet their professional duties keep them largely apart, serving different teams.
Dual Roles at the Milan-Cortina Games
Bennion holds the position of lead physician for the Canadian women's hockey team, while Auld fulfills the same critical role for the men's team at the Milan-Cortina Games. Their simultaneous assignments mark a unique convergence in their careers, though it does not guarantee much personal time together.
"When the NHL announced that they were going to the Olympics, we sort of looked at each other and went, 'Oh. I guess this means we might be going to the same Olympics,'" Bennion recalled. "It felt a little surreal in the moment."
Medical Careers and Hockey Canada Involvement
The couple first crossed paths during medical school at the University of British Columbia, where they developed a friendship within a shared social circle. Their relationship blossomed later when both pursued residencies in family practice in Calgary.
"She stood out right from the very beginning," Auld reminisced. "I remember the exact moment I first talked to her in anatomy class. She sat beside me. So she was very notable and she lent me her crayons to draw. I don't know what we were drawing, some anatomy. We were friends and we were all were with different partners at the time. It started with a friendship, but then when the spark clicked, it really clicked."
Their professional journeys with Hockey Canada began separately. Auld entered the organization after residency, taking over a practice from a physician who worked with Hockey Canada and was recruited for his expertise. His initial involvement included tournaments with younger athletes, such as an under-18 summer event where he met a young Sidney Crosby.
"I started with younger athletes, and my first tournament was an under-18 summer tournament. Sidney Crosby turned 16 at that summer camp … so I met him when he was in his first major Hockey Canada event," Auld explained.
Bennion's association with Hockey Canada dates back to 2005, when she served as a "pinch hitter" for the women's programs based in Calgary. During Olympic centralization periods, she provided medical support to athletes who relocated to the city for training.
"Hockey Canada women's programs were based in Calgary, and they would centralize prior to each Olympic Games for about six months. So they all moved to Calgary in August or September, and they would all always have a doctor who worked with them, but not always one who could stay centralized with them. I was the local person who stepped in to help," Bennion noted.
Balancing Professional Duties and Personal Life
As physicians dedicated to elite athletes, Bennion and Auld frequently travel across Canada and internationally for events and tournaments, leading to separations that can last days or weeks. The Olympic setting offers a rare opportunity to share a destination, yet their responsibilities to distinct teams limit their interactions.
In a recent interview with Postmedia, the couple discussed their daily routines in Milan, the dynamics of their long-lasting relationship, and even their Valentine's Day plans, highlighting the personal sacrifices intertwined with their professional commitments.
This story underscores the dedication required in sports medicine, where even married colleagues may find themselves in close proximity yet divided by team allegiances and rigorous schedules at premier events like the Olympics.
