The Canadian women’s hockey team is preparing for their final game in the Rivalry Series against the United States. This matchup comes after a challenging series for Canada, where the U.S. dominated the first three games. The Americans outscored Canada by 20-6 in those encounters.
Rivalry Series Finale: A Critical Showdown
The last game of this four-match series is set for Saturday at Rogers Place in Edmonton. This matchup is particularly significant as it is the final meeting between the two teams before the Olympic Games in February. Canada hopes to regain some momentum after a disappointing performance.
Canadian goalie Ann-Renée Desbiens expressed the team’s frustration, stating, “We know this group can do so much better and play with so much more pride than we did.” She will start in goal for the second consecutive game. To regroup, the team skipped practice on Thursday and instead focused on video analysis, alongside a Christmas dinner and gift exchange.
Team Strategy and Preparation
- Focusing on video analysis to identify areas for improvement
- Practice included breakouts and offensive-zone entries
- Special teams work was also emphasized
Forward Emily Clark highlighted the importance of external discussions. “We talked out a lot of stuff, had a lot of video to watch,” she noted. Veteran Brianne Jenner added, “There were a lot of holes in our game the other night, so trying to figure out how to plug those.”
Head coach Troy Ryan stressed the importance of this final game. “A win Saturday would be huge,” he said. He acknowledged the necessity for critical discussions regarding their recent performance, stating, “Credit goes to U.S. for forcing us into some of those situations.”
Olympic Roster Implications
This game also serves as the last opportunity for players to showcase their abilities before the announcement of the 23-player Olympic roster in early January. After the game, players will return to their respective Professional Women’s Hockey League clubs. However, Hockey Canada will continue monitoring players’ performances.
The Canadian women’s team, the defending Olympic champions, previously secured gold by defeating the U.S. 3-2 in the Beijing 2022 final. In contrast, the Americans claimed the world championship title after edging Canada 4-3 in overtime in the recent tournament held in Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Upcoming Olympic Challenge
Canada’s Olympic journey begins on February 4 against Finland in Milan, Italy. The Canadian team has not had a favorable run against the U.S. recently, losing five straight matches, the longest losing streak since a previous six-game stretch from 2014 to 2016.
As they head into this final Rivalry Series game, the Canadians are determined to send a clear message. Forward Emily Clark emphasized the importance of winning, suggesting it would serve as a significant confidence booster not just for the team, but also a statement to the U.S.
The stage is set for an intense showdown in Edmonton. Both teams aim to establish momentum as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic Games.
