ST. PAUL, Minn. — For the ninth time this fall, the U.S. and Canada took measure of each other on the ice Wednesday night. But after their pre-Olympic series ends Friday in Ottawa, the cold war between the reigning superpowers in women's hockey promises to rage on.
Canada trumped the Americans again in a 2-1 victory at Xcel Energy Center despite a spirited effort by the U.S. before a partisan crowd announced at 6,813. Canada has won six of the past seven games between the teams and is 6-3 against the United States this fall. The next time the two meet could be in the Olympic gold-medal game in Vancouver, and there will be plenty of maneuvering over the next six weeks.
One of the most intense rivalries in women's sports just keeps getting hotter, particularly since the U.S. beat Canada to win the past two world championships. Wednesday's game proved again how closely matched they are, and both teams will be seeking any edge they can get during their final Olympic preparations.
"We won't see them for two months, and a lot can happen between now and then," U.S. defenseman Angela Ruggiero said. "We still have a lot in the tank. We definitely haven't shown all of our cards. To me, it's exciting that we're getting better."
Wednesday's game launched the next phase of the Olympic trail for the U.S. team. The final Winter Games roster was named Dec. 17, and with the anxiety about making the team out of the way, coach Mark Johnson is beginning to sharpen his players' focus.
The Americans gave up an early goal when Haley Irwin tipped a shot past goalie Molly Schaus, but they grew stronger and more aggressive as the game wore on. After being outshot 14-9 in the first period, they peppered goalie Charline Labonte with 32 shots in the final 40 minutes, while Canada managed only 13.
Karen Thatcher slid in a rebound to tie the score midway through the second period before Colleen Sostorics' blast from the left point won it for Team Canada. Save for the outcome, Johnson and his players could not have been more pleased. In winning five of the previous six games in the series, Canada had outscored the U.S. 25-11, and Wednesday's game represented a confident stride forward for the Americans.
The next three weeks, Johnson said, will be critical to his team's development as he solidifies line combinations and sets his power-play and penalty-kill units. The team has added games against two boys' high school teams, from Shattuck-St. Mary's and Rochester Century, to augment five others against women's college and international competition.
"There are a lot of encouraging, positive things we can take away from the game," Johnson said. "(The players) know what they're capable of doing. Obviously, you want to win, but more importantly, now we can move forward and make progress starting where we finished (Wednesday night)."
Canada will finish its Olympic preparations by closing out a rigorous 53-game schedule that includes more than 30 games against 15- to 18-year-old boys in the Alberta Midget Hockey League. The Canadians have 14 returning Olympians to the Americans' six, and their roster includes three outstanding goaltenders as well as a group of speedy, highly skilled defensemen who are integral to their offense.
"We've been working very systematically," Canada forward Hayley Wickenheiser said. "We'll be a better team in six weeks. But we know (the U.S.) will be, too."
