Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

WOMEN'S HOCKEY

Team Canada vets enjoying every moment as CAN vs USA Rivalry Series comes to Kamloops

Nov 17, 2022 | 5:21 PM

KAMLOOPS — Anytime you get a Canada versus USA matchup on the ice, intensity is a guarantee.

“When we have this series where we’re seeing them a couple of times in a week — yeah, it gets intense,” Team Canada’s Brianne Jenner explains. “You have some memories of what happened after the whistle in the game before, things like that.”

The last time these two national teams faced off in Kamloops, the 2016 World Championship was on the line. They battled hard, with no scoring for over 72 minutes. Alex Carpenter broke the tie with 7:10 left in overtime to claim that title for Team USA.

“We have good memories and bad memories here,” Jenner says. “In 2014 we had a shoot-out win here [in the Four Nations Cup] which is pretty special. And then losing in overtime in 2016 here, so we’re going to try to right the ship tonight.”

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While some of the players from those championships remain on both rosters, there are many new faces wearing both the Maple Leaf and the Stars and Stripes. For Canada’s captain, that new talent helps push the veterans to be better.

“We have [Élizabeth] Giguère and [Loren] Gabel coming in this time around, that hasn’t been around. That’s fun,” Marie-Philip Poulin explains. “They’re great talents, and it’s those young ones that taking spots of veteran players. That’s what makes it even better. When you get the best players, you want to be better, as well.”

With that influx of new talent, Poulin and Jenner have been constants for the Women’s National Team. The two have played together since a pair of silver medals at the U18 World Championships in 2008 and 2009, including the last three Olympic games.

“We’ve been through a lot, and she’s a rock on this team,” Poulin says. “For me as well. I can lean on her at any point. She’s a very special player and person as well.”

That mix of veteran leaders and young talent makes it easy for the coaching staff to keep the team culture consistent.

“It’s always going to be a valuable point for us to have [our young players] in front of us, and learn from us, as coaches,” Associate Coach Kori Cheverie says. “To be able to learn from our veteran players, as well, it’s such a value-add for the program, but also for their careers, too, to get the opportunity to be here.”

One of the biggest lessons the vets can teach those young players is what it takes to win against your biggest rival.

“You know, every time we put that jersey on to play against the US, we know that there’s a lot on the line,” Jenner says.