In My Own Words: Emerance Maschmeyer
The National Women’s Team goaltender talks about life with partner Geneviève Lacasse, starting a family, being a trailblazer in the PWHL and the importance of being one’s true self
A few of our friends described it as a “hard launch.”
Geneviève and I decided not to officially “come out,” but instead we decided to just post the photos from our wedding last July. At that point, our friends, our families, our circle – the people who meant the most – all knew about our relationship.
We wondered if we needed to have a big coming out story. But we thought posting the photos of the day was a fun way of saying, “This is us. We got married,” like anyone else would post about getting married. It was time for us to just put ourselves out there and not be scared. There was so much love and support, and it was just so inspiring to see the effect we were able to have, just posting about our relationship.
We have a platform and influence, and we have people who follow our journeys. At the end of the day, those who support us will support us, and we want them in our lives, and we want to connect with them, but those who don’t, that’s all right.
We knew the impact we could have sharing our relationship and sharing our story; we knew there would be a positive impact, and we could help so many other individuals with their journey. And so maybe with age, there was some courage in telling our story, but we have all the support we need. So, for us, it was – how do we help others and support others now?
Going public was a huge weight lifted off our shoulders that neither of us recognized was there. And now I feel like we’re very open to having conversations, talking about our relationship and being our true selves. It’s been a rewarding journey. It was only a year ago, and it’s been so fun to just be out there and be us as a couple.
Geneviève and I started dating in 2015. I told my sister pretty early on about our relationship. Geneviève was the first woman that I ever dated. So, I also wanted to make sure that it was something, a longstanding relationship, before I told my entire family, which I would’ve done in any relationship that I was in.
I was in school at Harvard at the time, and so my teammates and friends at school knew early as well. And I knew I wanted to tell my family, but I wanted to do it in person. I didn’t want to make it a big deal, but I also know the norm in society is still, you’re heterosexual until you say otherwise. You have to come out and tell your story. I wanted to make it as normal as possible, but I also wanted to have in-person conversations with my family.
About a year after we started dating, I started telling my family. I told my parents one at a time. I went through my family. And I have a big family, so it was a lot of conversations. Being young, I was 20 years old, I was quite nervous about the conversations, but ultimately my family was so supportive– every conversation left me with ‘my family supports me and loves me no matter who I love.’ I know that’s not the case for everyone, but I am very fortunate to have a family that has my back no matter what. They were just happy I was in a loving relationship.
There were hesitations in coming out publicly, but it didn’t really have anything to do with our sexuality. It had everything to do with the fact that both of us were still active with the National Women’s Team, and we didn’t want our news to be about our relationship or our sexuality. We wanted it to be about hockey and our performance.
It’s certainly not easy when you and your partner share a profession. At the beginning, we had to say to each other that in many ways our relationship comes first, but we also have to put our own hockey first. And not in a selfish way, it’s more like… “If you do everything you can to make a team and to put yourself in a position to play, and I do everything I can to make a team and put myself in a position to play, then it’s not up to us. It’s up to the coach, it’s up to the scouts, it’s up to external factors.”
We were on the journey together, we were working hard and doing everything we could do individually, but when it came down to those decisions, we weren’t angry at each other. We could feel empathy if one played over the other, but at the end of the day, if one of us is in net, then it became, “Okay, I support you or you support me.”
We did have some bumps in the road along the way. I was released from the 2018 Olympics and she made the team. And then vice versa, in 2022, I made the Olympic team and she was released. This presented us with a big learning opportunity in our relationship. The first time around when I was released, we weren’t equipped with the skills to handle it. It was a big dream of mine to make that team and to play in the Olympics. And what do you say to your partner on either end, the one who makes it or the one who doesn’t? Navigating the situation and our dynamic was complex. We were supportive of one another, and to protect our relationship we felt that not talking about hockey was the best course.
The second time around, going into Beijing, we learned how to talk through it. We gained an understanding of how to have difficult conversations, to talk about how we feel. We wish that neither of those situations happened, but they actually made our relationship a lot stronger. We have acquired the skills to support each other and communicate through difficult situations, and recognize the importance of continuously practicing and refining those skills.
We found out we were pregnant in late 2023, a few months after we got married. We’re fortunate that we have friends that have gone through the fertility treatment process that we could use as a resource, and so we asked a lot of questions. We did a lot of research. We were living in Quebec, and luckily there’s funding to make the financial burden easier. Our journey to conception wasn’t long, and for that we are grateful.
It’s been quite a journey. We’re so excited to start our family and welcome our little boy to the world. It’s something that we had been wanting to do for so long, but having us both playing, it wasn’t really a possibility, especially without the salaries and security of a professional league. But now we’re finally in a position where I’m playing in the PWHL and Geneviève has security in her job as manager of corporate sponsorships and sales with the league. It’s the most security and stability we’ve had in a long time, and we’re excited to start our family.
We are looking forward to having our son grow up around strong women. And we know that he’ll grow up to respect women and look at women’s athletes as just athletes.
And I can’t forget the gender reveal! I was sitting on the bus with Emily Clark on a road trip this year, and we were chatting about doing a gender reveal, and just brainstorming some ideas. And then somehow it came up that it would be so fun to have an obstacle course and have the team involved. It evolved into Clark vs. Jenner, boy vs. girl, and went from there.
Geneviève and I gave them the link to the gender, because we wanted to be surprised as well. We set up one day after practice, and Clarky and Jenner, they came up with how the race would go. It turned out so good!
This year has been such a whirlwind. The wedding, the announcement of the PWHL, signing with Ottawa, finding out we were pregnant, launching the league, winning another world championship … hard to believe that’s only the last 11 months.
It’s been so incredible, the momentum that we have in the PWHL, the fandom, the support, the investment and the visibility. And just the growth that we’ve had within just our first season. Being a professional hockey player still feels surreal to me, but the pride I felt every time I stepped onto the ice with my teammates in Ottawa this season … it’s indescribable to be part of something so special.
Obviously, there’s still a long way to go for equity and parity, but we’ve made some huge steps in the past few years. Even in the grassroots now, there’s that ripple effect from the PWHL of getting women in sport and staying in sport.
At our games, I see young fans, not just young girls, but young boys too who just see us as hockey players. They don’t see us as women’s hockey players. They’re looking up to us like, “You’re my favourite player, you’re my favourite goalie.” They’re not saying, “You’re my favourite female goalie.” It’s been fantastic to see the shift in the mindset, and there are so many more stepping stones to come.
Because it is Pride Month, which means so much to me, I did want to end with a few thoughts.
Individually, everyone can look inward and see where they can do the work. I think often, people lead with assumptions when meeting someone. But we can all do a better job at letting them tell their story versus labelling them with, ‘You are this or you are that.’ It can be intimidating to be your true self because of preconceived assumptions.
Unfortunately, there’s going to be hate online. That’s unavoidable in the social media age we live in. But I think as much as we can, we need to hold on to the love and the support, and ensure the kind, loving, supportive voices drown out the negative ones.
As someone who’s in a same-sex relationship, I know that at times I can still be a little timid or discouraged to be my true self, but for those in our community, I encourage you to be as courageous as you can. Be your true self. If you come into a conversation and lead with your authentic self, it will start changing minds slowly. One person at a time.
We are moving in the right direction, and together is how we’re going to keep moving.
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Czechia
Monday, April 14 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (APRIL 14)
After a loss against the United States yesterday, Canada’s National Women's Team returns to the ice on Monday to face host Czechia in the final game of the preliminary round at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Last Game
Always the marquee matchup of the preliminary round, Canada dropped a 2-1 decision to the United States for its first loss of the tournament. The Americans held a 2-0 lead after two periods before Laura Stacey scored on a breakaway to cut the lead in half. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 26 saves in goal.
The Czechs dropped their second game in Group A on Saturday, losing 4-2 to Finland. Tereza Vanisova gave Czechia a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes, but Finland responded with four unanswered goals before Kristyna Kaltounkova scored with just over two minutes remaining. Klara Peslarova made 24 saves.
Last Meeting
Canada and Czechia last met in the 2024 Women’s Worlds semifinals, with the Canadians blanking the Czechs 4-0 on their way to a 13th gold medal. Blayre Turnbull kicked off the scoring 4:32 into the game, with Jocelyne Larocque giving Canada a 2-0 lead after the first period. Emily Clark and Sarah Fillier rounded out the scoring, while Ann-Renée Desbiens made nine saves for the shutout.
What to Watch
Line chemistry in short international tournaments is important, and the Canadians have the benefit of utilizing the Montréal Victoire’s top line on an international stage. Jenn Gardiner, Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey are the top three scorers for the first-place Victoire, combining for31 goals and 59 points. In three games in Ceske Budejovice, all three are top-10 in scoring and have combined for five goals and 14 points with a combined +17. Poulin has a goal and five assists, putting her atop the tournament scoring list and within shouting distance of a trio of all-time scoring records (more on that below).
The Czechs have some young talent emerging this season. Natalie Mlynkova—Chloe Primerano’s teammate at the University of Minnesota—notched 16 goals and 34 points in her fifth NCAA season, while 18-year-old Adela Sapovalivova recorded 15 goals and 36 points with MoDo in the Swedish women’s league. Kristyna Kaltounkova is making her debut on the senior team after becoming the first Czech player to be named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award and leads the Czechs in the tournament with two goals.
Milestone Watch
Poulin has a few major marks in her sights. She needs five more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and three more assists and four more points to take over from Hayley Wickenheiser atop those categories.
In goal, Desbiens is even with Swiss netminder Florence Schelling for the most in Women’s Worlds history (21).
And keep an eye on a few more games-played milestones on the blue line; Erin Ambrose is set to reach 100 appearances in her Team Canada career when she takes the ice today, while Jocelyne Larocque is four shy of becoming the first defender to reach 200 games.
A Look Back
These two teams have a relatively new history at the IIHF Women’s World Championship. They have only met three times— once in Brampton in 2023 and twice at last year’s championship.
All-time record: Canada leads 3-0-0 Canada goals: 14 Czechia goals: 1
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. United States
Sunday, April 13 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (APRIL 13)
Always the marquee matchup of the preliminary round, Canada’s National Women's Team is back in action Sunday at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship to take on the United States in a first-place showdown in Group A.
Last Game
Canada made it two wins – and two shutouts – in as many games with a 4-0 blanking of Switzerland on Friday. Marie-Philip Poulin had three assists, Micah Zandee-Hart scored her first Team Canada goal in her 69th international game and the Canadians got three goals in 2:32 midway through the second period – from Natalie Spooner, Laura Stacey and Daryl Watts (also her first international marker) – to pull away. Ann-Renée Desbiens’ return from injury was a success as she turned aside all 17 shots she faced for the shutout.
The Americans also improved to 2-0 on Friday, shutting out host Czechia by a 4-0 score. Abbey Murphy scored in each of the first two periods before veterans Hilary Knight and Alex Carpenter added insurance in the third for the U.S., which outshot the Czechs 48-10. Megan Keller added three assists in the win, while Gwyneth Philips recorded the shutout.
Last Meeting
The forever rivals closed out the Rivalry Series in Summerside, P.E.I., on Feb. 8, with the Canadians claiming the series for the third year in a row thanks to a 3-1 victory in the deciding Game 5. Jenn Gardiner netted her first international goal as the game-winner with less than seven minutes to go for the Canadians, who also got goals from Brianne Jenner and Stacey.
What to Watch
While young guns like Gardiner, Watts and Chloe Primerano have been making their presences felt through the first two games, the Canadians continue to go as Poulin goes. As the captain approaches 200 career games (she’s three away from becoming just the fourth player to reach the milestone), she shows no signs of slowing down. Poulin has a goal and four assists through the first two games, putting her atop the tournament scoring list and within shouting distance of a trio of all-time scoring records (more on that below). The 34-year-old has found tremendous chemistry with Victoire de Montréal teammates Gardiner and Stacey; they have combined for four goals and 11 points in two games and are a combined +14.
The Americans have gone with a scoring-by-committee approach in their first two games, getting at least three points from five different players (Carpenter, Keller, Knight, Murphy, Pannek). Knight continues to play at a high level in her 15th Women’s Worlds; the U.S. captain is already the all-time leader in goals (67) and points (114) in tournament history, and she’s two back of the assists record (she’s at 47), although teammate Kendall Coyne Schofield also sits at 47 and Poulin is up to 46, so any or all of the three should likely pass the legendary Hayley Wickenheiser and her 49 assists before the end of the gold medal is awarded in Ceske Budejovice.
Milestone Watch
As mentioned above, Poulin has a few major marks in her sights. She needs five more goals to surpass Jayna Hefford as Canada’s all-time leading goal scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, and four more assists and five more points to take over from Wickenheiser atop those categories.
In goal, Desbiens’ win brought her even with Swiss netminder Florence Schelling for the most in Women’s Worlds history (21). While the starter against the U.S. won’t be known until closer to puck drop, Desbiens is 19-8 with a 2.28 GAA and .908 save percentage all-time against the Americans.
And keep an eye on a few more games-played milestones on the blue line; Erin Ambrose is two appearances away from 100 in her Team Canada career, while Jocelyne Larocque is five shy of becoming the first defender to reach 200 games.
A Look Back
It’s Chapter 191 in the story of Canada vs. United States, with the Canadians in search of win No. 109 in the rivalry.
This is the first-ever meeting in Czechia, making it the 11th different country to have hosted the North American rivals (in order of countries played in: Canada, Finland, United States, Japan, Sweden, Italy, China, Russia, South Korea, Denmark and Czechia).
All-time record: Canada leads 108-81-1 (25-21 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 529 United States goals: 465
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Switzerland
Friday, April 11 | 9 a.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWITZERLAND (APRIL 11)
Less than 18 hours after Canada’s National Women's Team opened with a win at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, the team is back on the ice to face Switzerland as the preliminary round continues at Budvar Arena.
Last Game
Canada got off to a strong start with a 5-0 shutout of Finland on Thursday. Jennifer Gardiner led the Canadians with two goals and an assist in her first Women’s Worlds game. Ella Shelton, Marie-Philip Poulin and Emma Maltais also scored and Kristen Campbell made 24 saves to record the shutout in her tournament debut.
Switzerland opened Wednesday with a 3-0 loss to the host Czechs. The Swiss threw 26 shots on Klara Peslarova and had six power-play opportunities, but were unable to convert. Andrea Brändli made 26 saves.
Last Meeting
The Canadians faced Switzerland in the preliminary round at last year’s Women’s Worlds, earning a 3-0 shutout win. Emma Maltais got Canada on the board 70 seconds into the game and Sarah Nurse doubled the lead just over six minutes later. Sarah Fillier added an empty-netter, while Emerance Maschmeyer made 17 saves for the shutout.
What to Watch
When Maschmeyer and Ann-Renée Desbiens both sustained lower-body injuries in March, it provided a chance for Campbell and Ève Gascon to shine on the international stage. In 19 games with the Toronto Sceptres this season, Campbell has a 2.23 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage. Gascon just finished her sophomore year at University of Minnesota Duluth, posting a 1.83 GAA and.942 save percentage while earning First Team All-American honours.
Switzerland’s offence is powered by three-time Olympians Lara Stalder and Alina Müller. Stalder, the Swiss captain, has 27 goals and 50 points in 22 games with EV Zug in the Women’s League, while Müller is in her second PWHL season, registering seven goals and 19 points with the Boston Fleet. Brändli had a strong performance at last year’s Women’s Worlds in Utica, facing 173 shots in five games and recording a .921 save percentage.
Milestone Watch
Jenner is just one goal away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey is three points from 50 in her career. Marie-Philip Poulin has the potential to break several Canadian records at this Women’s Worlds: the captain is within striking distance of the records for career goals (needs five), assists (needs seven) and points (needs eight) by a Canadian at the tournament. She’s also four games from 200 in her Team Canada career, while stalwart defender Jocelyne Larocque needs six appearances to become the first blue-liner to get to 200.
A Look Back
Surprisingly, Canada and Switzerland have only faced off 20 times since 1997, but they have been frequent foes at the last four Women’s Worlds.
They last faced off in Europe in the semifinals of the 2022 tournament in Denmark, with the Canadians earning a 8-1 win. Poulin (2-1—3) and Fillier (1-2—3) each recorded three-point performances.
All-time record: Canada leads 20-0-0 Canada goals: 155 Switzerland goals: 9
Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Finland
Thursday, April 10 | 1 p.m. ET | Ceske Budejovice, Czechia | Preliminary Round
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. FINLAND (APRIL 10)
Here we go! Canada’s National Women's Team opens its quest for a 14th gold medal at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship against Finland on Thursday at Budvar Arena.
Last Meeting
The Canadians faced Finland in its tournament opener at last year’s Women’s Worlds, coming away with a 4-1 win over the Finns. Brianne Jenner opened the scoring in the first period, and Emma Maltais and Julia Gosling scored in the second before Ella Shelton added a final insurance goal late in the third. Ann-Renée Desbiens made 32 saves between the pipes.
Last Game
Canada captured the Rivalry Series for the third-consecutive season with a 3-1 victory over the United States in Summerside, P.E.I., in early February. Jenner opened the scoring in the second period before the Americans tied it up just over three minutes into the third. Jennifer Gardiner’s first goal with Canada’s National Women’s Team was the game-winner and Laura Stacey added an empty-net goal to secure the win—and the series—for the Canadians.
Finland opened its tournament Wednesday with a 7-1 loss to the United States. Petra Nieminen scored the Finns’ sole goal on a power play in the second period, with Elisa Holopainen and Nelli Laitinen picking up assists. Sanni Ahola made 17 saves.
What to Watch
Canada has several new faces that will make their Women’s Worlds debuts in Czechia. Daryl Watts and Gardiner have joined the forward corps after strong seasons in the PWHL. Watts sits third overall in the league with 26 points (11-15—26) with the Toronto Sceptres, while Gardiner has recorded 16 points (4-12—16) with the Montreal Victoire. On the blue line, Sophie Jaques makes her debut after sitting fourth in the PWHL in assists with the Minnesota Frost. After a strong showing in November’s Rivalry Series games, Chloe Primerano will become the second-youngest defender to play for Canada at Women’s Worlds roster, six months older than Cheryl Pounder in 1994. Primerano recorded five goals and 31 points with the University of Minnesota this season and captained Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to gold at U18 Women’s Worlds in January. In between the pipes, Ève Gascon made her first Women’s Worlds roster after posting a .942 save percentage and 1.83 goals-against average with the University of Minnesota Duluth.
Notably, Finnish captain Jenni Hiirikoski, the all-time games leader at Women’s Worlds (96), will not compete due to illness. The Finns have a lot of young talent on their roster with seven players currently attending NCAA schools, including Primerano’s teammates Nelli Laitinen and Krista Parkkonen. Susanna Tapani has been a key contributor on the PWHL’s Boston Fleet this season, registering 11 goals and 18 points, and Ronja Savolainen has made an impact during her first season with the Ottawa Charge, earning 11 points (2-9—11).
Milestone Watch
Jenner is just one goal away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey is four points from 50 in her career. Marie-Philip Poulin has the potential to break several Canadian records at this Women’s Worlds: the captain is within striking distance of the records for career goals (needs six), assists (needs eight) and points (needs 10) by a Canadian at the tournament. She’s also five games from 200 in her Team Canada career, while stalwart defender Jocelyne Larocque needs seven appearances to become the first blue-liner to get to 200.
A Look Back
Canada has typically had the upper hand over Finland historically, having lost just twice and tying once in 90 meetings, but the Finns are still tough competition.
This is the first time the teams will meet in Czechia. Canada and Finland last faced off across the pond at the 2022 Women’s Worlds in Denmark, with the Canadians earning a 4-1 win. Sarah Nurse, Poulin and Meaghan Mikkelson scored in that matchup, with Blayre Turnbull adding an empty-netter in the final minutes.
All-time record: Canada leads 87-2-1 Canada goals: 464 Finland goals: 115
Hannah Miller to miss 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship
Hockey Canada names Julia Gosling as replacement on Team Canada’s roster
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced that Hannah Miller (North Vancouver, BC/Toronto, PWHL) has been deemed ineligible by the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) to compete for Canada at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, April 9-20 in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
The IIHF stipulates a two-year timeline from when Miller last played overseas in order for her to be eligible to play for Canada.
“We are extremely disappointed to learn that Hannah is not able to compete for Canada at the upcoming world championship,” said general manager Gina Kingsbury (Rouyn-Noranda QC/Toronto, PWHL). “We remained optimistic and believed she had met all the conditions outlined by the IIHF to represent her country, including the two-year timeline around the transfer portal. Hannah has worked hard this season, earned a spot on our roster and we will look forward to future opportunities for her to wear the Maple Leaf.”
Miller, who was set to make her IIHF Women’s World Championship debut, was one of 25 players named to Canada’s National Team roster earlier this month. She is in her second season with the PWHL’s Toronto Sceptres and is currently fourth in league scoring with 24 points (10-14—24) in 26 games.
Julia Gosling (London, ON/Toronto, PWHL) will be the replacement for Miller. Gosling made her Women’s Worlds debut last year and helped Canada win its 13th gold medal in Utica, New York.
Canada opens the tournament against Finland on April 10. It will face Switzerland on April 11 and the United States on April 13 before closing out the preliminary round on April 14 against Czechia.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage throughout the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, airing all of Canada’s games. TSN will broadcast all 29 games from Budvar Arena. RDS will provide coverage of all Team Canada games, in addition to two quarterfinals and two semifinals, as well as the medal games.
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, Instagram and TikTok.
National Women’s Team named for 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship
25 athletes to chase 14th Women’s Worlds gold medal starting April 9 in Czechia
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 25 players named to Canada’s National Women’s Team roster who will look for a fourth gold medal in five years at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, April 9-20 in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia.
Three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 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), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, AHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input.
“We are excited about the team we have selected for Women’s Worlds, a team that is built on exceptional talent, character and commitment,” said Ryan. “We are focused on our preparation and ultimately winning a gold medal. We are ready for the challenge and proud to represent our country.”
The roster includes 18 players who helped Canada capture its 13th Women’s Worlds gold medal in Utica, New York, in 2024 (Ambrose, Campbell, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Gosling, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Serdachny, Shelton, Spooner, Stacey, Turnbull).
Five players will be making their IIHF Women’s World Championship debut (Gardiner, Gascon, Jaques, Primerano, Watts).
“With less than a year to go until the 2026 Olympics, this is our final opportunity to face a number of opponents and compete at the highest level as part of our preparation,” said Kingsbury. “We are excited about the team we have assembled to contend for a gold medal while also looking long-term on the road to Milan.”
The 10-team tournament features the defending champion Canadians in Group A with host Czechia, Finland, Switzerland and the United States, while Group B includes Germany, Hungary, Japan, Norway and Sweden.
Canada will travel to Tabor, Czechia, for its pre-tournament camp ahead of Women’s Worlds. It opens the tournament against Finland on April 10 and will face Switzerland on April 11 and the United States on April 13 before closing out the preliminary round on April 14 against Czechia.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will carry extensive game coverage throughout the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship, airing all of Canada’s games. TSN will broadcast all 29 games from Budvar Arena. RDS will provide coverage of all Team Canada games, in addition to two quarterfinals and two semifinals, as well as the medal games.
For more information from the International Ice Hockey Federation, please visit the official tournament site HERE.
In 23 appearances at the IIHF Women’s World Championship, Canada has captured 13 gold medals (1990, 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2012, 2021, 2022, 2024), in addition to nine silver (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023) and one bronze (2019).
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, Instagram and TikTok.
Creating spaces for conversations
With the Rivalry Series in Halifax, local community leaders organized a mini summit to elevate the voices of Indigenous hockey players, like Team Canada veteran Jocelyne Larocque
When the announcement was made that the Rivalry Series would wrap up on the East Coast this year, the brainstorming began for Ryan Francis.
“We saw that there was an opportunity to elevate voices of Indigenous hockey players and people and share their experiences in a very specific context and environment,” says Francis, the Mi’kmaw sport, recreation and physical activity corporate strategist for the Nova Scotian government.
That’s where the Indigenous Hockey Mini Summit was born. In partnership with Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey, the Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaw, Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre and the Genevieve Francis Memorial Fund, the half-day summit had three segments featuring Indigenous players, including Canada’s National Women’s Team defender, Jocelyne Larocque (Métis) and a keynote speech from USA Hockey alumna, Sydney Daniels (Cree).
“For me, being a woman, being Indigenous, I think it’s important for young Indigenous girls to be able to see Indigenous women living their dream, having fun while they’re doing it and working hard,” Larocque says. “It’s important for me to share that message with all youth in the world.”
When Francis approached Larocque with the opportunity to get involved in the
mini summit, she was drawn to participate right away. Not only did Larocque
do a Q&A at the summit, hosted by TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde, but she also
made time for a meet and greet with Hockey Nova Scotia’s Indigenous Girls
Hockey Program after the Rivalry Series game in Halifax.
Kenzie Lalonde (left) interviews Jocelyne Larocque during the summit.
For Larocque, representation matters. Anytime she can give back to her community or share experiences to inspire others, she will.
“It’s very important for women playing professional hockey to have that exposure and for young girls to see us having a career playing hockey because I didn’t have that. A lot of my teammates didn’t have that,” Larocque says. “I definitely will always push towards a more inclusive, diverse and equal playing field, whether that’s hockey or anything in life.”
The summit also provided opportunities for informal conversations with speakers, like Larocque. Jordan Dawe-Ryan recalls one little girl sitting around a table eating breakfast alongside Larocque before the summit began and having a chance to ask the veteran blue-liner any questions she had.
“The girl’s happiness just shone right through the experience she had,” says Dawe-Ryan, the active living community coordinator at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre. “With all the momentum that has been growing with woman’s hockey worldwide […] it’s amazing that they could sit down together, like two friends, and talk about who they are, what their goals are and their journey along the way.”
Erin Denny, who is in her fifth year playing at Saint Mary’s University, participated on the Mi’kmaw players’ panel at the summit. The 23-year-old feels she has grown into a role model and really takes pride in that role.
“As I transition out of my hockey career and more into that role, I think
it’s really important to share my story and my thoughts on everything so
there can be more success for Indigenous youth,” Denny says.
Sara-Lynne Knockwood (left), Erin Denny and Chad Denny during the Mi'kmaw players' panel.
Like Larocque, Denny says representation can open doors for youth, and having an Indigenous role model for Indigenous youth to look up to can make a huge difference in their lives.
“Especially as a minority group, seeing someone that is similar to you, lives a similar life and has the same struggles as you, I feel like it can make a world of a difference for youth,” Denny says. “Being in this position, I think it’s really important that I continue to share my experiences and be an outlet for youth if they have questions or want advice.”
There were additional events connected to the mini summit, such as a pizza dinner and poster-making night at the Friendship Centre before the Rivalry Series game. The Friendship Centre also provided smudging kits as the Player of the Game awards in Halifax. Despite some winter weather causing power outages in the city the morning of the summit, the event was a big success.
“It’s important to create that space, and when you do create that space and have it in an environment that people feel safe and comfortable, there can be really powerful discussions and perspectives that get brought forward that will help move conversations amongst decision-makers,” Francis says.
With such a positive response from participants, organizers are already brainstorming for another event in the future—this time expanding from a mini summit to a full, multi-day summit.
“Another one will be on the way and we’re hoping to make it even bigger and better the next time,” Dawe-Ryan says. “[We want to] provide more opportunities, provide more spaces for us to share our culture and have these safe spaces where we can interact, engage and really be our true, vulnerable selves in these spaces.”
Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States
Saturday, February 8 | 7 p.m. AT | Summerside, Prince Edward Island | Game 5
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 8)
It all comes down to Game 5. Canada’s National Women's Team faces its cross-border rivals from the United States in a Saturday night showdown to decide the Rivalry Series at Credit Union Place.
Last Meeting & Last Game
Canada dropped a 2-1 shootout decision on Thursday in Halifax, evening up the series at two wins apiece. Hilary Knight scored midway through the first period to give the Americans the lead, but it was the home-province hero, Blayre Turnbull, scoring with 2:20 remaining to send the game to overtime before the U.S. converted on three of four shootout attempts.
What to Watch
It’s been a warm East Coast welcome for Turnbull. The 31-year-old native of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, has two goals and an assist in this year’s Rivalry Series to go along with five goals and two helpers in 15 games as captain of the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Of course, in a winner-take-all scenario, we’d be remiss if we did not talk about Captain Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin. The Montreal Victoire captain has a history of scoring in clutch scenarios, whether it was the game-winner in last year’s Rivalry Series finale or gold medal games at four Olympics. She leads the PWHL with 10 goals in 14 games.
Gwyneth Philips was terrific in the American goal in Halifax, finishing with 31 saves in regulation and overtime before turning away all three Canadian shooters in the shootout to record her first international win. And, of course, Knight continues to make an impact in international games, with her goal in Halifax giving her three in as many Rivalry Series games. The 35-year-old, who leads the Boston Fleet with 11 points (5-6—11) in 13 PWHL games this season, has scored 159 goals in 235 Team USA games over her 19-year international career.
Milestone Watch
Brianne Jenner is just two goals away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Laura Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray are both five points from 50 in their careers.
A Look Back
Winner-take-all games have been a common occurrence in the Rivalry Series lately. This is the third year in a row the series will be decided in the final game. Last year, Canada once again erased a 3-0 series deficit and completed the reverse sweep with a 6-1 win in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Natalie Spooner and Emma Maltais scored twice as Canada capitalized on special teams with two power-play goals and a shorthanded marker.
Saturday also marks the first time Canada’s National Women’s Team will play the United States on Prince Edward Island.
All-time record: Canada leads 107-81-1 (25-21 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 526 United States goals: 463
Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States
Thursday, February 6 | 7 p.m. AT | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Game 4
GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 6)
Hello, Halifax! Canada’s National Women's Team is back in action against its cross-border rivals, kicking off the Canadian leg of the Rivalry Series against the United States on Thursday night at Scotiabank Centre.
Last Meeting & Last Game
Canada took a 2-1 lead in the Rivalry Series with a 4-1 win in Boise, Idaho, back in November. Jocelyne Larocque and Sarah Nurse gave Canada an early lead in the first period, with Kristin O’Neill making it a 3-0 game in the middle frame. The Americans got one back on the power play in the third, but Emily Clark provided the final margin of victory with less than four minutes left.
What to Watch
With the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season well underway, three different members of Canada’s National Women’s Team lead the league in points, goals and assists. Sarah Fillier (New York Sirens) leads the PWHL in scoring with 15 points (5-10—15) after a fantastic start to her professional career. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Montreal Victoire) leads with 10 goals in 14 games (10-2—12), while Claire Thompson (Minnesota Frost) leads with 10 assists in 15 games (4-10—14). Between the pipes, Ann-Renée Desbiens tops all qualified goaltenders in wins (8), goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.935).
Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise sit right behind Fillier in PWHL scoring. Coyne Schofield, the Americans’ veteran captain, has earned 14 points (6-8—14) in 15 games, while Heise, the reigning Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP, has recorded 14 points (4-10—14) in 14 games. The United States also made a change to its roster on Tuesday; Alex Carpenter, Gabby Rosenthal, Hayley Scamurra and Grace Zumwinkle are no longer able to participate, and were replaced by Izzy Daniel, Clair DeGeorge, Maureen Murphy and Mannon McMahon.
Milestone Watch
Thursday’s game marks international game No. 100 for Nurse and Laura Stacey. Brianne Jenner is just two goals away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray are both sitting five points away from 50 in their careers.
With her assist on Canada’s first goal in Game 3, Poulin passed Hockey Hall of Fame forward Danielle Goyette for fourth place in all-time National Women’s Team scoring (220 points).
A Look Back
This is the third time Halifax has hosted the Canada-United States rivalry, and Thursday marks the first time since 2004 that the team will play in Nova Scotia after the COVID-19 pandemic erased the opportunity for the city to host the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Canada captured its eighth consecutive Women’s Worlds gold with a 2-0 win over the Americans in Halifax on April 6, 2004. After a scoreless first, Hayley Wickenheiser opened the scoring four minutes into the second period before Delaney Collins doubled the advantage early in the third. Kim St-Pierre was terrific in the Canadian goal (as the Hall of Famer typically was), posting a 26-save shutout.
All-time record: Canada leads 107-80-1 (25-20 in OT/SO) Canada goals: 525 United States goals: 462
National Women’s Team roster unveiled for Canadian leg of Rivalry Series
Team Canada to face United States in Halifax and Summerside for series finale
CALGARY, Alberta – Hockey Canada has announced the 25 players who have been named to Canada’s National Women’s Team for the Canadian leg of the 2024-25 Rivalry Series, Feb. 6 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and concluding Feb. 8 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
Three goaltenders, eight defence and 14 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), Caroline Ouellette (Montréal, QC/Concordia University, RSEQ) and Britni Smith (Port Perry, ON/Syracuse University, CHA), along with goaltending consultant Brad Kirkwood (Calgary, AB/Toronto, PWHL), also provided input.
“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 IIHF Women’s World Championship in April,” said Kingsbury. “We are thrilled to immerse ourselves within two passionate hockey communities, meet with fans and showcase women’s hockey to everyone in Halifax and Summerside.”
The roster features 21 players who suited up for the first three games in the United States in November (Ambrose, Bell, Clark, Desbiens, Fast, Fillier, Gosling, Jenner, Larocque, Maltais, Maschmeyer, Nurse, O’Neill, Poulin, Rattray, Serdachny, Shelton, Stacey, Thompson, Turnbull, Watts).
Canada leads the United States 2-1 in this year’s Rivalry Series, posting back-to-back victories (5-4 and 4-1 wins) after dropping the opening game during the U.S. leg. Since the start of the Rivalry Series during the 2018-19 season, Canada holds a 17-14 advantage over the Americans.
TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast both games; please check local listings for details. Media wishing to attend the games in Halifax and Summerside must fill out an online accreditation form.
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, Instagram and TikTok.
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