Hockey Canada names 24-player squad for final Rivalry Series games
Hockey Canada announced its 24-player roster on Monday for the final three games of the 2023-24 Rivalry Series.
Canada enters the last leg of the seven-game series down 3-1 to the United States. Saskatoon and Regina, Saskatchewan, host contests on Feb. 7 and Feb. 9, respectively, before the final game is played in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Feb. 11. Each game will be played regardless of whether the Americans clinch a series victory early.
Just like the U.S., which announced its roster on Thursday, Canada's team is comprised entirely of players currently playing in the PWHL.
Here's the full team:
Forwards
| Name | PWHL Team |
|---|---|
| Victoria Bach | Toronto |
| Emily Clark | Ottawa |
| Maggie Connors | Toronto |
| Jessie Eldridge | New York |
| Brianne Jenner | Ottawa |
| Emma Maltais | Toronto |
| Sarah Nurse | Toronto |
| Kristin O'Neill | Montreal |
| Marie-Philip Poulin | Montreal |
| Jamie Lee Rattray | Boston |
| Natalie Spooner | Toronto |
| Laura Stacey | Montreal |
| Blayre Turnbull | Toronto |
PWHL leading goal-scorer Marie-Philip Poulin headlines the group of 13 forwards. Despite notching six goals in her first eight PWHL games, the Montreal star has yet to find the back of the net in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series.
Victoria Bach is anticipated to make her PWHL debut on Saturday. The 27-year-old has been a reserve player with Toronto while she finishes her teachers' college certification at Brock University and will be available on a full-time basis beginning on Feb. 1.
Newfoundland native Maggie Connors makes her national team debut. The 23-year-old has one goal and three points with PWHL Toronto after a prolific four-season career at Princeton.
Natalie Spooner returns for her first Rivalry Series action of the season. After playing at the 2023 World Championships, Spooner didn't appear on Canada's roster in November or December. She gave birth to her son in December 2022.
Defenders
| Name | PWHL Team |
|---|---|
| Erin Ambrose | Montreal |
| Ashton Bell | Ottawa |
| Jaime Bourbonnais | New York |
| Jessica DiGirolamo | Boston |
| Renata Fast | Toronto |
| Jocelyne Larocque | Toronto |
| Ella Shelton | New York |
| Micah Zandee-Hart | New York |
PWHL Montreal's Erin Ambrose is back after missing the December slate with an injury. Jessica DiGirolamo is also on the roster after not playing last time out.
Ella Shelton has been superb with PWHL New York, leading the league among rearguards with three goals and eight points in eight contests.
Micah Zandee-Hart makes her season debut in the Rivalry Series. PWHL New York's captain recently returned to action after undergoing shoulder surgery last summer.
Goaltenders
| Name | PWHL Team |
|---|---|
| Ann-Renee Desbiens | Montreal |
| Emerance Maschmeyer | Ottawa |
| Corinne Schroeder | New York |
After an injury to Ann-Renee Desbiens in November and the same for Emerance Maschmeyer in December, Canada has both of its top goaltenders on the roster for the first time since the 2023 Worlds.
But it's a new No. 3 joining them. PWHL New York's Corinne Schroeder bumps Kristen Campbell with her remarkable start in the new league.
Schroeder sports a .946 save percentage in five games with New York, compared to Campbell's .890 SV% in seven starts. Campbell plays for Canada's head coach, Troy Ryan, and general manager, Gina Kingsbury, with PWHL Toronto.
Campbell had featured on each Canadian roster since 2021 and is coming off a 19-save shutout against New York on Friday.