CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 25 players named to Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.

Three goaltenders, eight defenders and 14 forwards were selected by general manager Danièle Sauvageau (Montreal, QC/Montreal, PWHL) and head coach Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL). Assistant coaches Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Montréal, PWHL) and Kris Sparre (Mississauga, ON/Hamilton, PWHL), along with goaltending coach Bruno-Pierre Guillemette (Laval, QC/Montréal, PWHL), special advisor Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON), assistant general managers Mike Hirshfeld (Toronto, ON/Ottawa, PWHL) and Manon Rhéaume (Lac-Beauport, QC/Detroit, PWHL), the coaches present at training camp and senior manager of scouting and player development Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON) also provided input.

“We are thankful for all of the athletes who attended training camp last week in Quebec City and provided intense competition ahead of the world championship. Heading into the first international competition of this Olympic quadrennial, we are thrilled to have such amazing talent within our program,” said Sauvageau. “We are excited about the players who have been named to Team Canada as we compete for a gold medal in Denmark, while looking at the long-term success of our program.”

The roster features 13 players who won a silver medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games (Ambrose, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Jaques, Maltais, O’Neill, Osborne, Shelton, Stacey, Tabin, Watts) and 12 who helped Canada to its most recent Women’s Worlds gold medal in 2024 (Ambrose, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Gosling, Jaques, Maltais, O’Neill, Serdachny, Shelton, Stacey).

Seven players will make their debut at the IIHF Women’s World Championship (Cooper, Kraemer, Leslie, Manness, McDonald, Tremblay, Wozniewicz).

It was also announced that Alison Domenico (Ottawa, ON/University of Ottawa, OUA) will join the coaching staff as an assistant coach for Women’s Worlds. Domenico previously won gold as an assistant coach at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

“Following a strong training camp in Quebec City, our coaching staff is excited to continue building toward the world championship with the athletes selected to represent Canada,” said Cheverie. “There is a great sense of energy, hunger and determination within this group. We’re looking forward to building on that momentum as we prepare to compete in Denmark.”

The Canadians will be joined in Group B at Women’s Worlds by host Denmark, Finland, Japan and Sweden, while Group A includes Austria, Czechia, Germany, Switzerland and the United States. 

Canada will be on the ice in Windsor, Ontario (Oct. 28), and Plymouth, Michigan (Oct. 30), for pre-tournament games against the United States. Fans looking to attend the game at the WFCU Centre in Windsor can purchase tickets HERE.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast both pre-tournament games and carry extensive game coverage throughout the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, airing every Team Canada game.

For more information from the International Ice Hockey Federation, please visit the official tournament site HERE.

In 24 appearances at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, Canada has won 13 gold medals (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2024), in addition to 10 silver (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023, 2025) and one bronze (2019).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the coaching staff and management group that will lead Canada’s National Women’s Team through the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship, Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.

Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL) will serve as head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2026-27 season, joined by assistant coaches Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/ Montréal, PWHL) and Kris Sparre (Mississauga, ON/Hamilton, PWHL).

The staff was selected by general manager Danièle Sauvageau (Montréal, QC/Montréal, PWHL), Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations, and Dylan Rockwell (Calgary, AB), director of hockey operations.

“I am incredibly proud and honoured to have the opportunity to lead Canada’s National Women’s Team,” said Cheverie. “Growing up playing hockey in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, I had big dreams of one day being part of Team Canada. I didn’t know then that my path would be through coaching, and I am extremely grateful that this journey has now given me the opportunity to lead this program. I am excited to work alongside an amazing group of athletes and staff as we continue building together. With the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship in front of us in November, I cannot wait to get to work, compete for Canada and continue pushing this program forward.”

Canada’s National Women’s Team will gather in Quebec City for selection camp from Oct. 8-14. The camp will feature on- and off-ice training sessions as well as two intrasquad games, Oct. 12 and 14 at the Centre Vidéotron. Ahead of Women’s Worlds, Canada will play host to the United States in pre-tournament action at the WFCU Centre in Windsor on Oct. 28. Fans looking to secure their seats can purchase tickets HERE. The cross-border rivals will also face off Oct. 30 in Plymouth, Michigan, before departing for Denmark.

Cheverie has served as head coach of the PWHL’s Montréal Victoire for all three seasons of the league’s existence, winning the Walter Cup last season and earning PWHL Coach of the Year honours in 2024-25 after guiding the Victoire to first place in the regular-season standings. She won gold medals as an assistant coach at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2021, 2022 and 2024, in addition to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games, and silver medals at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, and Women’s Worlds in 2023 and 2025. In 2022, Cheverie became the first woman to serve on the coaching staff with one of Canada’s national men’s teams at the IIHF U18 World Championship. Nationally, she won a silver medal as head coach of Nova Scotia at the 2023 Canada Winter Games, the province’s first-ever medal in women’s hockey. She was also the first woman hired as a full-time assistant coach in U SPORTS, spending five seasons (2016-21) with the Ryerson University men’s hockey team.

Ouellette has been the associate head coach at Concordia University since 2021, and recently completed her second season as an assistant coach with the Victoire, helping the team to a Walter Cup championship. As an assistant coach with Canada’s National Women’s Team, she won gold medals at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2022 and 2024, in addition to silver medals in 2023 and 2025, and bronze in 2019, as well as an Olympic silver medal at Milano Cortina 2026. A Team Canada legend during her 17-year playing career, Ouellette won four Olympic gold medals and six world championships and recorded 242 points (87-155—242) in 220 games, the third-most in National Women’s Team history. She was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame and IIHF Hall of Fame in 2023.

Sparre was recently named the inaugural head coach of PWHL Hamilton after serving the 2025-26 season as head coach of the Boston Fleet, earning PWHL Coach of the Year honours. Prior to joining the Fleet, Sparre spent time with the San Diego Gulls of the American Hockey League (AHL) as an assistant coach (2021-25), the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Flint Firebirds as an associate coach (2021-22) and as an assistant coach with the OHL’s Niagara IceDogs (2016-19).

In addition, Bruce Cassidy (Ottawa, ON) will serve as special advisor to Sauvageau, who will be joined by assistant general managers Michael Hirshfeld (Toronto, ON/Ottawa, PWHL) and Manon Rhéaume (Lac-Beauport, QC/Detroit, PWHL) for the 2026-27 season.

Reporting to Sauvageau, Cassidy will support the management group and coaching staff through selection camp, pre-tournament games in Windsor and Plymouth, and during the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

“This elite coaching staff brings the passion, grit and experience we need to launch a new Olympic quadrennial, as it is crucial to build an environment that will foster growth and opportunity," said Sauvageau. "We did not just assemble a coaching staff—we built a leadership force. Starting in Quebec City, we are laying a championship foundation. This team will represent Canada with fierce pride and power in Denmark and the years ahead.

"Bringing Bruce onto our staff is a win for our program. His wealth of elite hockey experience and deep-rooted legacy with Hockey Canada make him an invaluable asset. We are fortunate to have his leadership guiding our coaches and support staff as we establish a standard.”

Cassidy served as an assistant coach with Canada’s Men’s Olympic Team in 2026 and with Canada’s National Men’s Team at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. He last served as head coach of the Vegas Golden Knights for four years (2022-26), winning the Stanley Cup in 2023. He joined Vegas after more than five seasons (2017-22) as head coach of the Boston Bruins, leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup Final in 2019 and winning the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2019-20. As a player, Cassidy represented Canada at the 1984 IIHF World Junior Championship and suited up for Canada’s National Men’s Team during the 1986-87 season.

Hirshfeld is entering his fourth season with the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge after being named the organization’s first general manager in 2023, helping guide the Charge to the Walter Cup Finals in each of the past two seasons. Prior to joining Ottawa, he served as executive director of the NHL Coaches’ Association from 2016 to 2023.

Rhéaume was recently named the inaugural general manager of PWHL Detroit. Previously, she spent four seasons (2022-26) as a hockey operations and prospects advisor for the Los Angeles Kings. As a player, Rhéaume helped Canada win a silver medal at the 1998 Winter Olympic Games and captured gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 1992 and 1994.

Hockey Canada has also announced the support staff that will work with Canada’s National Women’s Team for the 2026-27 season:

• Video coach Stefanie Thomson (Port Perry, ON/Toronto, PWHL)
• Strength and conditioning coach Vicki Bendus (Wasaga Beach, ON/Hamilton, PWHL)
• Equipment managers Trevor Black (Flesherton, ON/University of Waterloo, OUA) and Matina Landstad (North Vancouver, BC/Vancouver, PWHL)
• Team physician Dr. Laura Bennion (Vancouver, BC)
• Therapists Christine Atkins (Fort Macleod, AB), Jennifer Love (Windsor, ON/Windsor, OHL) and Danielle McNally (Wolfville, NS)
• Massage therapist Meagan Cowell (London, ON)
• Senior manager of scouting and player development Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON)
  
• Hockey operations manager Cassidy Wait (North Vancouver, BC)
• Hockey operations coordinator Cameron Lattemore (Bracebridge, ON)
• Media relations manager Jacob Wolfenden (Hamilton, ON)

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Canada’s National Women’s Team will face the United States ahead of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Oct. 28 at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT in Windsor, Ontario.

A second pre-tournament game will be played in the United States with details to follow in the coming days. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the game live from the WFCU Centre. The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship will be played from Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.

Fans looking to secure their seats and support Canada on its journey to gold at Women’s Worlds can purchase tickets starting at $68—with limited group seating available starting at $56—beginning Sept. 10 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

“We are thrilled to bring together two of the top countries in women’s hockey, who will showcase their incredible talent and passion in Windsor,” said D’Arcy Hutcheson, director of events with Hockey Canada. “Windsor has played host to a number of Hockey Canada events and continues to deliver an excellent experience for staff, players and fans who will be cheering on Team Canada as it prepares for the IIHF Women’s World Championship.”

Canada opens the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Friday, Nov. 6, facing Sweden at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. Canada will also play Japan, Denmark and Finland in the preliminary round.

“Windsor is proud to once again partner with Hockey Canada and the Windsor Spitfires to bring Canada's National Women's Team to our community for this exciting international matchup against the United States,” said Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor. “Events like this reflect our community's passion for hockey and its unique ability to bring people together. Hosting world-class competition inspires young athletes to strive for excellence, engages residents, creates community pride and generates positive economic growth for local businesses. It also provides an opportunity to showcase outstanding facilities like the WFCU Centre, which continues to attract premier sporting events to our city. We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, fans and visitors to Windsor and demonstrating why our community remains a premier destination for national and international sport.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Canada’s National Women’s Team will face the United States ahead of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Oct. 28at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT in Windsor, Ontario.

A second pre-tournament game will be played in the United States with details to follow in the coming days. TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the game live from the WFCU Centre. The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship will be played from Nov. 6-16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark.

Fans looking to secure their seats and support Canada on its journey to gold at Women’s Worlds can purchase tickets starting at $68—with limited group seating available starting at $56—beginning Sept. 10 at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

“We are thrilled to bring together two of the top countries in women’s hockey, who will showcase their incredible talent and passion in Windsor,” said D’Arcy Hutcheson, director of events with Hockey Canada. “Windsor has played host to a number of Hockey Canada events and continues to deliver an excellent experience for staff, players and fans who will be cheering on Team Canada as it prepares for the IIHF Women’s World Championship.”

Canada opens the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Friday, Nov. 6, facing Sweden at 9 a.m. ET/6 a.m. PT. Canada will also play Japan, Denmark and Finland in the preliminary round.

“Windsor is proud to once again partner with Hockey Canada and the Windsor Spitfires to bring Canada's National Women's Team to our community for this exciting international matchup against the United States,” said Drew Dilkens, the mayor of Windsor. “Events like this reflect our community's passion for hockey and its unique ability to bring people together. Hosting world-class competition inspires young athletes to strive for excellence, engages residents, creates community pride and generates positive economic growth for local businesses. It also provides an opportunity to showcase outstanding facilities like the WFCU Centre, which continues to attract premier sporting events to our city. We look forward to welcoming players, coaches, fans and visitors to Windsor and demonstrating why our community remains a premier destination for national and international sport.”

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagramand TikTok

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Danièle Sauvageau (Montréal, QC/Montréal, PWHL) will serve as general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Program through the 2030 Olympic Winter Games, effective immediately.

Sauvageau will also maintain her position as general manager of the Montréal Victoire in the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) during the 2026-27 season, with the expectation of joining Hockey Canada full-time as vice-president of hockey operations and general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Program for the remaining three years ahead of the 2030 Olympics in the French Alps.

In her role, Sauvageau will serve as general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Team while helping guide the National Women’s Under-18 Team and National Women’s Development Team.

The selection process was led by a search committee, including three National Women’s Team alumnae—committee chair and Hockey Canada board member Gillian Apps (Toronto, ON), Therese Brisson (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC) and Cassie Campbell-Pascall (Brampton, ON)—as well as president and chief executive officer Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), vice-president of hockey operations Misha Donskov (London, ON), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Own The Podium high performance advisor Cara Thibault (Calgary, AB) and Brad Treliving (Penticton, BC).

“We are thrilled to announce Danièle Sauvageau’s return to Hockey Canada as general manager of the National Women’s Program. Danièle brings a wealth of experience in professional and international hockey, including as the first Canadian head coach and general manager to win an Olympic gold medal and the only Canadian general manager to win a Walter Cup,” Salmond said. “We are confident in Danièle’s vision to develop our athletes on and off the ice and we are excited for her to implement her strategy with the National Women’s Program during the 2026-27 season and throughout this Olympic quadrennial.”

“Throughout her career, Danièle has enjoyed tremendous success, and while we know there is a lot of work ahead for our National Women’s Program, we have a leader in place who is a proven winner and knows what it will take to be successful at the 2030 Olympic Winter Games,” Henderson said. “Danièle will also be empowered to ensure our elite development pathway is producing exceptional athletes and people in a system that is innovative, proactive and uniquely Canadian.

“The explosion of women’s and girls’ hockey has created a need to be more aggressive with elite player development, and Hockey Canada is committed to being a leading organization that provides opportunities for more participants to develop in our system and hopefully wear the Maple Leaf as they represent our country.”

Sauvageau was the first woman inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame’s Builder Category as an Honoured Member in 2025. She has served as general manager of the Victoire since the team’s inception in 2023 and led the team to a Walter Cup championship in 2026. She also spent time as the associate head coach and general manager of Team Harvey’s with the PWHPA (2022-23), associate coach with the Canadiennes de Montréal in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League (2018-19), and general manager and initiator of the University of Montréal women’s hockey program (2010-16, 2017).

Internationally, Sauvageau was an assistant coach (1996-97) and head coach (2000-02) of Canada’s National Women’s Team, capturing gold at the 2001 IIHF World Women’s Championship and 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the latter of which she also served as general manager. She was named to the Order of Canada in 2012 for her extraordinary contributions to the game of hockey and has been involved in the game for over 30 years.

“Joining Hockey Canada as general manager of the National Women’s Program is a privilege,” said Sauvageau. “Working alongside the country’s best women’s hockey players and staff as we prepare for the 2030 Olympic Winter Games is an incredible opportunity and we have our sights set on showing the very best performance at every opportunity along the way. I have incredible memories of representing Team Canada and understand the preparation and collaboration required to achieve success at the international level.”

The National Women’s Team coaching staff for the 2026-27 season will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Program, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that the organization, alongside National Women’s Team general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL) and head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/San Jose, PWHL), have mutually agreed that the pair will not return to the National Women’s Program for the 2026-27 season. A search committee has been established to identify the next general manager of Canada’s National Women’s Team. 

The search committee will include three National Women’s Team alumnae—committee chair and Hockey Canada board member Gillian Apps (Toronto, ON), Therese Brisson (Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC) and Cassie Campbell-Pascall (Brampton, ON)—as well as vice-president of hockey operations Misha Donskov (London, ON), senior vice-president of high performance and hockey operations Scott Salmond (Creston, BC), Own The Podium’s high performance advisor Cara Thibault (Calgary, AB) and a current member of Canada's National Men's Team management group, Brad Treliving (Penticton, BC).

“Gina and Troy were instrumental to tremendous success with our women’s team in their respective roles and we are grateful for the time and effort that was given to Canada’s National Women’s Team,” said Salmond. “Moving forward, Hockey Canada is looking to bring in the best available candidate for the general manager position with the National Women’s Team who will focus on implementing the strategy and vision of the program heading into the 2026-27 season and our next quad.”

Under contract through the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Kingsbury and Ryan were instrumental in the preparation of Canada’s National Women’s Team through multiple IIHF Women’s World Championships, Rivalry Series and Olympic Winter Games, including Canada’s gold medal victory in Beijing in 2022, back-to-back gold medals at the 2021 and 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championships and gold at the 2024 Women’s Worlds.

“Hockey Canada is extremely grateful for the commitment, passion and expertise that Gina and Troy displayed each time they represented Canada with our National Women’s Team,” said Katherine Henderson (Thunder Bay, ON), president and chief executive officer. “We cannot thank them both enough for providing world-class treatment to our women’s hockey program and exemplifying what it means to be a leader on the international stage.”

The successful candidate will be in charge of hiring the next head coach of Canada’s National Women’s Team, along with the coaching staff, management group and support staff.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow through social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

MILAN, Italy – Canada's Women’s Olympic Team opened the scoring, but dropped a 2-1 decision in overtime to the United States on Thursday to finish with a silver medal at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.

After a scoreless first period, Canada capitalized on a shorthanded opportunity 54 seconds into the middle frame. Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, ON/Montreal, PWHL) found a trailing Kristin O’Neill (Oakville, ON/New York, PWHL) in the slot, and she slipped a backhand behind American netminder Aerin Frankel.

“There are a lot of emotions, but I am really proud of the way my team played. I am very sad with the result because we came so close to winning, but I am grateful to be in this situation and I’m proud of the way we represented Canada,” O’Neill said. “I am not surprised with the way we played tonight, because this team always brings its best in these big moments. We have so much experience in our room and we really showed that tonight.”

Canada held onto the one-goal advantage until the U.S. pulled Frankel for an extra attacker with 2:23 remaining in regulation and scored the equalizer to send the game to three-on-three overtime. Megan Keller beat Ann-Renée Desbiens (Clermont, QC/Montreal, PWHL) 4:07 into extra time for the game-winner. Desbiens was stellar in net for Canada, finishing with 31 saves.

“I think the benefit of having an experienced group is that they know how to put things into perspective. We can’t get caught up in the outside noise and what people say about us; we can only focus on the commitment to play the right way,” said Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL). “For those who have questioned this group, I hope once again they’ve shown why they deserve the credit they’ve earned playing together over the years. We don’t get too caught up in the noise, it comes with the territory and I’m definitely proud of this group.”

Following the gold medal game, Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, QC/Montreal, PWHL) was named Best Forward and was also named to the media all-star team. Poulin etched her name in the history books once again Thursday, breaking the record for the most games played by a Canadian at the Olympic Winter Games with 27.

“We wanted to play in-your-face, relentless hockey and that’s what we did,” Poulin said. “We knew it was going to be a battle from both teams. It’s Canada and the U.S. in the gold medal game—it’s one of the best rivalries in sport. Obviously, we came up short, but I’m really proud of this group.”

A full game summary can be found at HockeyCanada.ca.

Canada finished second in the Group A standings with a 3-0-0-1 record in the preliminary round, defeating Switzerland, Czechia and Finland and recording its only loss against the United States. Canada booked its spot in the gold medal game with a 5-1 win over Germany in the quarterfinals and a 2-1 semifinal win over Switzerland.

At the Olympic Winter Games, Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team has won five gold medals (2022, 2014, 2010, 2006 and 2002) and three silver medals (2026, 2018, 1998).

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (DEC. 13)

The 2025-26 edition of the Rivalry Series comes to a close Saturday night at Rogers Place as Canada’s National Women's Team hosts the United States in the fourth and final game.

Last Meeting & Last Game

It was a wild Wednesday night in Edmonton as the Canadians finished on the wrong end of a 10-4 final score in Game 3. Sarah Fillier opened the scoring just 48 seconds after the puck dropped and Sophie Jaques potted a pair of goals, but the U.S. opened up a 4-1 lead after the first period and never looked back. Julia Gosling has the other goal for Canada, which actually outshot the Americans 34-29.

What to Watch

One of a quartet of potential first-time Olympians on the Canadian blue line—alongside Nicole Gosling, Chloe Primerano and Kati Tabin—Jaques doubled her career offensive output in the span of 6:35 on Wednesday night, keeping the Canadians momentarily within striking distance. The Toronto product burst onto the scene with the Minnesota Frost last season, leading all PWHL defenders in scoring (7-15—22 in 25 games played) and earning a Defender of the Year nomination before averaging almost a point per game in the playoffs (2-5—7 in eight games played), helping the Frost defend its Walter Cup championship. One of the first signings by the expansion Vancouver Goldeneyes, Jaques has been terrific on the West Coast in the early weeks of the new season, recording a goal and three points in five games.

Abbey Murphy continued her standout season Wednesday, scoring twice and adding two assists to up her Rivalry Series total to eight points (5-3—8) in three games. She has been even better with the University of Minnesota, ranking second in the NCAA in points per game with 1.89 (34 points in 18 games), and her 20 goals are good for second in all of college hockey. Kendall Coyne Schofield contributed a goal and two helpers in the Game 3 victory. The 33-year-old has been producing in the PWHL as well; the Frost captain is co-leading the league in scoring with five points (1-4—5) in four games for the two-time defending champions.

One More Game!

In the Edmonton area and want to watch the final game for Team Canada ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Italy? Tickets are on sale for Saturday night’s series finale at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

A Look Back

How has Canada fared in its other pre-Olympic finales? Not including exhibition games immediately preceding the Games in the host country, the Canadians have fashioned a 4-3 record.

The list—all games against the Americans—includes a 4-2 win in Colorado Springs in 1998 (goal and assist from Jennifer Botterill and Hayley Wickenheiser), a 3-2 loss in Vancouver in 2002 (goals from Botterill and Wickenheiser), a 5-3 loss in Winnipeg in 2006 (goal and an assist from Gina Kingsbury), a 3-2 shootout win in Ottawa in 2010 (SO winner from Jayna Hefford), a 3-2 loss in Toronto in 2013 (goals from Natalie Spooner and Brianne Jenner), a 2-1 overtime win in Edmonton in 2017 (OT winner from Jennifer Wakefield) and a 3-2 overtime win in St. Louis in 2021 (OT winner from Marie-Philip Poulin).

All-time record: Canada leads 108-86-1 (25-22 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 539
United States goals: 491

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (DEC. 10)

After a one-month hiatus, the Rivalry Series returns Wednesday night in the Alberta capital as Canada’s National Women's Team welcomes the United States to Rogers Place for the penultimate game in the series.

Last Meeting & Last Game

The Canadians and Americans clashed in Buffalo, New York, back on Nov. 8, with Canada finishing on the wrong end of a 6-1 final score. Marie-Philip Poulin converted on a second-period power play to cut the American lead in half, but four unanswered U.S. goals in the third frame provided the final margin of victory. Kayle Osborne made her Team Canada debut between the pipes, finishing with 26 saves.

What to Watch

After sitting out the first two games of the series, veteran forward Brianne Jenner draws back into the Canadian lineup. It will mark her 184th international game, drawing even with Jennifer Botterill for the sixth-most games played with Canada’s National Women’s Team. The Oakville product is the leading Canadian scorer in the early weeks of the PWHL season, posting five points (2-3—5) in four games with the Ottawa Charge. She equalled the league record of four points in a single game when she scored twice and added two assists in a win over the Vancouver Goldeneyes on Nov. 26. Jenner has the second-most career points against the Americans, recording 51 (22-29—51) in 92 games.

Jenner shares the PWHL scoring lead (five points) with a trio of Americans, all of whom will be on the ice in Edmonton and all of whom ply their trade professionally with the Minnesota Frost. Veteran leader Kendall Coyne Schofield has four goals in as many games with the Frost, alongside Kelly Pannek (2-3—5) and league assists leader Britta Curl-Salemme (0-5—5). On the back end, defender Caroline Harvey is toying with her college opposition, racking up an NCAA-leading 37 points, including 28 assists, in just 18 games with the University of Wisconsin.

Welcome to Edmonton!

These games in Edmonton – tonight and Saturday – mark the final contests before Team Canada defends its Olympic gold medal in Milan.

In the area and want to be there? Tickets are on sale at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets.

A Look Back

Despite Edmonton’s place in Canadian hockey history, this will be just the second time Canada and the U.S. have faced off in the city.

In the finale of a six-game pre-Olympic series on Dec. 17, 2017, Jennifer Wakefield scored 4:34 into overtime to give the Canadians a 2-1 win. Poulin scored on a first-period power play and Edmonton native Shannon Szabados made 34 saves.

It’ll be the eighth meeting on Alberta ice, pulling even with Quebec for the third-most among Canadian provinces (Ontario – 29, British Columbia – 16). In addition to the Wakefield win in 2017, Canada has one other extra-time victory in Alberta, and it was a memorable one – Poulin scored 7:22 into OT to give Canada gold at the 2021 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

All-time record: Canada leads 108-85-1 (25-22 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 535
United States goals: 481

CALGARY, Alberta – In its final international competition ahead of the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Hockey Canada has named the 25 players who will be part of Canada’s National Women’s Team for the last two games of the Rivalry Series, Dec. 10 and 13 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 forwards were selected by general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda, QC/Toronto, PWHL), head coach Troy Ryan (Spryfield, NS/Toronto, PWHL) and Cherie Piper (Scarborough, ON), senior manager of player development and scouting. Assistant coaches Kori Cheverie (New Glasgow, NS/Montréal, PWHL), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Montréal, PWHL) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, AHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input.

This is the second time Edmonton will provide the backdrop for games between the cross-border rivals; on Dec. 17, 2017, Jennifer Wakefield scored with 26 seconds remaining in overtime to lead Canada to a 2-1 victory in the conclusion of a six-game series ahead of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

“We are excited to bring our rivalry with the Americans back to Edmonton, giving fans one last chance to watch and cheer their hockey heroes before the Olympics,” said Kingsbury. “These last two games are crucial in our preparations with the Milan Cortina Games less than 70 days away. We are confident we have built a group that will give us a chance to be successful as we finish off the series in front of our fans and a hometown crowd.”

The roster features 20 players who suited up for the two games played in the U.S. last month (Ambrose, Fast, Fillier, Gardiner, J. Gosling, Jaques, Kraemer, Maltais, Maschmeyer, O’Neill, Osborne, Poulin, Primerano, Serdachny, Shelton, Spooner, Stacey, Thompson, Turnbull, Watts). Canada dropped the opening games of the Rivalry Series, falling 4-1 in Cleveland, Ohio, and 6-1 in Buffalo, New York.

Following the Rivalry Series, Canada’s management team and coaching staff will continue to evaluate players during the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) and collegiate seasons before naming Canada’s Women’s Olympic Team in January.

Fans still have an opportunity to secure their seats for the Rivalry Series. Individual tickets start at $50 (plus applicable fees and taxes). A two-game package is also available starting at $80 (plus applicable fees and taxes). Fans can visit HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets to secure their seats.

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast both games; check local listings for details.

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca or follow along via social media on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.