CALGARY — The 25 Canadian women tasked with closing out hockey's Rivalry Series with the United States were announced Tuesday.
Canada carries a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series into Halifax on Feb. 6 and Summerside, Prince Edward Island on Feb. 8.
The Canadian women posted back-to-back wins of 4-1 and 5-4 in a shootout after dropping the opener 7-2 in November's first three games played in the U.S.
The roster for the Canadian leg resembles November's with 21 returning players, led by captain Marie-Philip Poulin.
Defenders Micah Zandee-Hart of Saanichton, B.C., and Sophie Jaques of Toronto, goaltender Corinne Schroeder of Elm Creek, Man., and forward Jennifer Gardiner of Surrey, B.C., join Canada's side for the final two games.
The roster was selected by Hockey Canada's women's team general manager Gina Kingsbury, head coach Troy Ryan, senior development and scouting manager Cherie Piper, assistant coaches Korie Cheverie, Caroline Ouellette and Britni Smith and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood.
“We are excited about the group of players we have assembled for these final two games against the Americans, which gives us another chance to look at the depth of our program while we look ahead to the women’s world championship in April," Kingsbury said in a statement.
Canada is the defending champion for the April 9-20 women's world championship in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia after edging the U.S. 6-5 in overtime in the last year's final in Utica, N.Y.
Hockey Canada named 25-player rosters for the Rivalry Series because the International Ice Hockey Federation has expanded world championship rosters to that number, which equals the men's, from the previous 23.
Laura Stacey, Sarah Fillier, Brianne Jenner, Sarah Nurse, Emily Clark, Emma Maltais, Blayre Turnbull, Kristin O'Neill, Jamie Lee Rattray, Julia Gosling, Danielle Serdachny and Darryl Watts round out the forwards for the final two games.
Jocelyne Larocque, Renata Fast, Ella Shelton, Ashton Bell, Erin Ambrose and Claire Thompson complete the defence with Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer returning in goal.
Canada lost the first three games of best-of-seven Rivalry Series before winning four straight to take it in both 2023 and 2024.
The series was shortened this season to accommodate the Professional Women's Hockey League schedule.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 21, 2025.
The Canadian Press
