(above) There's no love loss between the USA & Canadian women's hockey teamsFrom: CTV.com
by Donna Spencer
The Canadian women's hockey team is bent on beating the U.S.A. in Saturday's exhibition game in Denver.
The Canadians head into Saturday's game with the confidence of winning three of their last four games against archrival U.S., but a few players are not confident in their position on the team.
Canada and the U.S. are 3-3 since 26 Canadians congregated in Calgary on Aug. 2 to begin training and playing together full-time. The Olympic women's hockey tournament starts Feb. 13 with Canada opening against Slovakia.
The Canadians are the defending champions and are expected to meet the U.S. in the gold-medal game Feb. 25 for a fourth straight Games.
Saturday's matchup at Magness Arena at the University of Denver is the third of a six-game traveling exhibition series between the two countries. The fourth is next Tuesday at Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome, followed by stops Dec. 30 in St. Paul, Minn., and Jan. 1 in Ottawa.
After losing twice to the Americans in September's Hockey Canada Cup tournament in Vancouver, Canada beat them in the first two exhibition games of the series in Victoria and Spokane, Wash., in October.
At the annual Four Nations Cup last month, they split their two meetings with the Canadians winning the final 5-1 on Nov. 7
"We haven't played them for awhile,'' Wickenheiser said. "It's just a chance to see where we're at, test ourselves more than anything, see what our improvements have been and try to get a win as we always try to do.''
Canada plays a regular schedule of games against men's midget triple-A teams in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. The women currently hold an 11-5 record against boys between the ages of 15 and 18.
The national women's team played a Junior A men's squad _ players aged 16 to 20 _ for the first time Saturday. Canada edged the Calgary Canucks 3-2, thanks to a 52-save performance by Shannon Szabados in goal.
The U.S. women make Blaine, Minn., their training base and have also recruited male opposition to help them prepare for the Olympics. The Americans will name their Olympic roster Dec. 17.
"They've played a couple of boys teams this past week, so they're upping their preparation,'' Davidson said. "They're not coming in having not played.''
While Davidson is satisfied with her power play and penalty-kill units so far, she's emphasizing stronger play even-strength Saturday.
The change in altitude is a consideration Saturday as Denver, nicknamed the Mile-High city, is 1,609 metres above sea level. Calgary is 560 metres lower, while Blaine is 1,330 metres below Denver.
"It will be thinner air,'' Wickenheiser said. "It does hit you. I like to think we're a pretty fit team as well, so it shouldn't be a factor.''
The Canadians head into Saturday's game with the confidence of winning three of their last four games against archrival U.S., but a few players are not confident in their position on the team.
Canada and the U.S. are 3-3 since 26 Canadians congregated in Calgary on Aug. 2 to begin training and playing together full-time. The Olympic women's hockey tournament starts Feb. 13 with Canada opening against Slovakia.
The Canadians are the defending champions and are expected to meet the U.S. in the gold-medal game Feb. 25 for a fourth straight Games.
Saturday's matchup at Magness Arena at the University of Denver is the third of a six-game traveling exhibition series between the two countries. The fourth is next Tuesday at Calgary's Pengrowth Saddledome, followed by stops Dec. 30 in St. Paul, Minn., and Jan. 1 in Ottawa.
After losing twice to the Americans in September's Hockey Canada Cup tournament in Vancouver, Canada beat them in the first two exhibition games of the series in Victoria and Spokane, Wash., in October.
At the annual Four Nations Cup last month, they split their two meetings with the Canadians winning the final 5-1 on Nov. 7
"We haven't played them for awhile,'' Wickenheiser said. "It's just a chance to see where we're at, test ourselves more than anything, see what our improvements have been and try to get a win as we always try to do.''
Canada plays a regular schedule of games against men's midget triple-A teams in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. The women currently hold an 11-5 record against boys between the ages of 15 and 18.
The national women's team played a Junior A men's squad _ players aged 16 to 20 _ for the first time Saturday. Canada edged the Calgary Canucks 3-2, thanks to a 52-save performance by Shannon Szabados in goal.
The U.S. women make Blaine, Minn., their training base and have also recruited male opposition to help them prepare for the Olympics. The Americans will name their Olympic roster Dec. 17.
"They've played a couple of boys teams this past week, so they're upping their preparation,'' Davidson said. "They're not coming in having not played.''
While Davidson is satisfied with her power play and penalty-kill units so far, she's emphasizing stronger play even-strength Saturday.
The change in altitude is a consideration Saturday as Denver, nicknamed the Mile-High city, is 1,609 metres above sea level. Calgary is 560 metres lower, while Blaine is 1,330 metres below Denver.
"It will be thinner air,'' Wickenheiser said. "It does hit you. I like to think we're a pretty fit team as well, so it shouldn't be a factor.''
16 comments:
I'm defiantly looking forward to this. It may be exhibition but it's still a great opportunity to see the top two women's teams in the world go at it.
Agreed. A rare treat here in Denver. Maybe one day one of our D-1 schools here will have a Women's program?? Maybe one young girl who'll be there tonight will be on that team someday....
The game was not well promoted - no story in the papers all week, no ads, etc.
We'll see how many people show up.
I love that DU sent out the email only a few days before the event... other than I heard nothing about it either. Pathetic marketing... I would have liked to see this.
It was not a DU event in any way shape or form; they simply rented the building out to Qwest for the night.
Who won?
Canada smoked us, 4-2 in a game that wasn't that close. They announced a crowd of 3,100 but it looked more like 2,000 or 2,500 to me.
Canada was much sharper, faster, stronger and in control of the game from the drop of the puck. The US goals came in the third period when Canada was up 3-0 and took their foot off the gas.
Lots of little girls in the crowd, and good to get DU arena and the Pio banners on the NHL network.
The USA has a lot of work to do before Vancouver. They didn't have much sustained offense, and the goaltending was not great either.
Yeah, from what I saw, my money's on Canada going into the games; unless Johnson can get these American chix to step it up a few notches - which is entirely possible. Great to see both teams out there tonight.... my personaly first-time watching girls play hockey. Talented women on both sides though, I must admit.
The marketing was crappy. The only reason I really knew about it in the first place was because of this blog... and that was a year ago. I think the blog should get paid compensated for that. ;)
The talent level for Team USA women about is that of a Minnesota Boys High School team, while Team Canada is about the talent level of a low level Tier II Junior team.
Mark Johnson needs to find a way to sharpen the US transition and get offensive pressure down low.
Swami you are being too nice. The Canadian team is not on level with a low level Tier II Junior team but more like a Minnesota highschool boys team. I bet Edina, Hill Murray and Jefferson could beat them.
Team Canada beat the Junior A Calgary Canucks last week, 3-2.
US team really needs to work on their passing and puck control. Way too many turnovers at the blue line and in front of their net.
I would rather watch paint dry.
Gotta love a good cat fat. Better than Foxy Boxing at PTs.
Gotta love a good cat fight. Better than Foxy Boxing at PTs.
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