Twenty-five athletes are set to participate in the Canada-U.S. Rivalry Series as part of the Canadian women’s hockey team’s preparation for the upcoming Olympics. Hockey Canada is finalizing the roster for the Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, which are less than 100 days away. The Rivalry Series will serve as a crucial evaluation for players vying for a spot on the Olympic squad, offering a limited opportunity to test out line combinations and team chemistry before the February games.
The series kicks off on Thursday in Cleveland, Ohio, followed by a game in Buffalo, N.Y., on Saturday. The competition will then move to Edmonton for the final two games on December 10 and 13, with Hockey Canada likely making roster adjustments for those matches.
Canadian General Manager Gina Kingsbury emphasized the significance of the four-game series as a vital step in the team’s preparation for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, focusing on refining their on-ice identity and strategic details to achieve success.
Traditionally, Olympic hopefuls would undergo centralized training for months, but this year, Hockey Canada has adopted a different approach. Thirty potential Olympians have engaged in three training blocks across the country this fall, deviating from the centralized training model.
The U.S. leg of the Rivalry Series will feature a 25-player roster, including notable NCAA players such as Chloe Primerano, Caitlin Kraemer, and Ève Gascon. Primerano, if selected, could become the youngest player to join the Olympic team since Marie-Philip Poulin in 2010.
Veteran players like Poulin, Blayre Turnbull, Sarah Fillier, Natalie Spooner, and Sarah Nurse will lead the offense in the series, while the defense will see the absence of key players like Jocelyne Larocque and Nicole Gosling. The blue line, with a mix of returning champions and emerging talents like Sophie Jaques, poses challenging decisions for Hockey Canada’s management.
In the goaltending department, Ann-Renée Desbiens will not participate in the Rivalry Series, allowing Emerance Maschmeyer, Ève Gascon, and Kayle Osborne to showcase their skills for potential backup roles. Ultimately, only 23 players will be selected for the final Olympic roster.
Head coach Troy Ryan highlighted the importance of building chemistry during the limited training blocks before the Olympics, emphasizing the significance of players forming bonds on and off the ice. The upcoming PWHL training camps will play a pivotal role in the selection process, with Canadian and U.S. national team members expected to join their respective teams.
The PWHL regular season will commence on November 21, with teams gearing up for intense competition before the league breaks for the Olympics in January. The Canadian roster for the initial Rivalry Series games boasts a mix of experienced veterans and promising newcomers across forward, defense, and goaltending positions.