CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 24 players who have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Team for the final three games of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, including a pair of games in Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, Feb. 7 and Feb. 9, respectively.
Three goaltenders, eight defence and 13 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), Courtney Kessel (Mississauga, ON/Boston, PWHL) and Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ), and goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL) also provided input.
“We are excited about the 24 players we have assembled for our final three games against the Americans, and once again we expect another competitive series to showcase to our great fans,” said Kingsbury. “Our roster features a more veteran lineup, however with each series, we have looked at the depth of our women’s program and incorporated athletes which allowed us to test new line combinations. Ultimately, the process and these games are the building blocks we need for us to have success at the upcoming IIHF Women’s World Championship in April.”
The roster features 14 players who suited up at the Rivalry Series in Kitchener and Sarnia, Ontario, in December (Bell, Bourbonnais, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Shelton, Stacey, Turnbull), while Maggie Connors (St. John’s, NL/Toronto, PWHL) is set to make her debut with Canada’s National Women’s Team.
The Rivalry Series continues at the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, home of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL), on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. CT. The Canadian portion of the Rivalry Series wraps up in Regina, with the teams clashing at the Brandt Centre, home of the WHL’s Regina Pats, on Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. CT. The teams will travel south of the border for the series finale in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Sunday, Feb. 11 at 1 p.m. CT.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the final three Rivalry Series games; please check local listings for details. Media wishing to attend the games in Saskatoon and Regina must fill out the online accreditation form.
Tickets for the final two Rivalry Series games in Canada are on sale now at HockeyCanada.ca/Tickets, and are available starting under $30.
This year’s Rivalry Series marks the fifth year the cross-border rivals will face off in cities across Canada and the United States. Canada’s National Women’s Team currently trails the United States 3-1 in the 2023-24 series, giving Canada a 12-13 record in 25 games since the inception of the Rivalry Series in 2018-19.
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 and Instagram.