Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada blocks a shot by Forward Kelly Pannek #12 of USA in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
USA celebrates with the championship trophy after defeating Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
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Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA celebrates after scoring the winning goal past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse (not pictured) of Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada looks down after Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA scores the winning goal in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Dani Cameranes #24 of USA fights for the puck against Defenseman Laura Fortino #8 of Canada in the third period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA scores the winning goal past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA celebrates after scoring the winning goal past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse (not pictured) of Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Monique Lamoureux-Morando #7 of USA is mobbed by teammates after scoring against Canada in the third period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Defenseman Megan Bozek #9 of USA is mobbed by teammates after scoring the winning goal past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada in sudden death overtime during the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Alex Carpenter #25 of USA is upended by Defenseman Erin Ambrose #23 of Canada in the third period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. USA wins 4-3 in sudden death overtime. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield #26 of USA fights for the puck against Canada] in the second period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Annie Pankowski #27 of USA fights for the puck against Defenseman Erin Ambrose #23 of Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Canada and USA fight in the second period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Canada v. USA in the second period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Jessie Eldridge #55 of Canada controls the puck against Defenseman Savannah Harmon #34 of USA in the second period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Hilary Knight #21 of USA controls the puck against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Brianna Decker #14 of USA fights for the puck against the boards against Canada] in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Blayre Turnbull #40 of Canada fights for the puck against Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield #26 of USA in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Dani Cameranes #24, right, of USA celebrates as she scores past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Dani Cameranes #24, center, of USA celebrates as she scored past Goaltender Genevieve Lacasse #31 of Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield #26 of USA fights for the puck against Forward Rebecca Johnston #6 of Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Brianna Decker #14 and teammate Forward Kendall Coyne Schofield #26 of USA fights for the puck against the boards against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Fans chant USA after a goal against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Hilary Knight #21 of USA reacts after scoring against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Hilary Knight #21 of USA reacts after scoring against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Forward Hilary Knight #21 of USA reacts after scoring against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
Fans chant USA after a goal against Canada in the first period of the Rivalry Series hockey match at the Honda Center in Anaheim on Saturday, February 8, 2020. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
ANAHEIM >> In perhaps the biggest women’s hockey game in North America this year and the most well-attended one in U.S. history, Team USA and Team Canada did not disappoint the 13,320 on hand.
This previous record had been 10,158 for a game between these two national teams in Detroit back in 2002. It was crushed by this finale of 2019-20 Rivalry Series, which went to overtime with the U.S. winning 4-3. The U.S. won the series over all by 4 games to 1.
Defenseman Megan Bozek’s power-play goal 42 seconds into overtime provided a dramatic finish to a high-paced, momentum-swinging and hotly contested game.
“The crowd out here tonight was amazing, 13,320 is what we saw. Together, we’re breaking barriers, we’re setting records and I think it was worth the price of admission tonight,” U.S. team captain Kendall Coyne Schofield said. “It was an excellent hockey game and it’s always nice to come out on top.”
Right wings Hilary Knight and Dani Cameranesi also scored for the United States, as did left wing Monique Lamoureux-Morando. Canada got goals from right wing Jill Saulnier as well as left wings Loren Gabel and Mélodie Daoust. They were without the injured Marie-Philip Poulin-Nadeau, who is considered by many to be the top player in the sport. In net, Team USA’s Alex Cavallini made 17 of 20 saves and out-lasted Canada’s Genevié Lacasse, who stopped 26 of 30 shots.
“The Anaheim Ducks set the tone, they set the market and they proved to the rest of the NHL clubs that you can host a women’s hockey game and you can sell it,” Coyne Schofield said.
In overtime, the U.S. took full advantage of their 4-on-3 power play. They created a scramble by getting a shot through Lacasse that teetered near the goal line. It was swiped away in a narrow aversion of a U.S. goal, but defenseman Megan Keller recovered the puck and sent it over to Bozek, who ripped a shot from the top of the right faceoff circle past a not-yet recovered Lacasse.
The U.S. ended regulation on a power play and generated a solid chance before the final horn.
Precisely nine minutes into the final frame, Lamoureux-Morando scored the equalizer, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The timely tally was reminiscent of her game-tying marker in the 2018 Olympic gold medal game, which her twin sister, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson then sealed for the U.S. with a shootout goal.
“We let that momentum shift in the second period take our energy out of us, but we bounced back in the third period and we played USA hockey,” Coyne Schofield said.
Less than three minutes into the second stanza, a turnover behind the net proved costly as it left Canada with a two-on-none situation at point-blank range, which Daoust finished easily in front. Canada would carry their 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
The U.S responded less than two minutes after Canada had taken a lead, getting a goal from Cameranesi. Her short-side wrister caught Lacasse off her angle to knot the game at two. They would also threaten to close the period, but went into the break tied.
The U.S. held an 8-3 advantage in shots on net, but Canada took a 2-1 lead late in the first frame. They pulled ahead with 3:28 left in the period off another goal off the rush. Gabel burst down the left wing and snapped a shot far side that caught a piece Cavallini on the way into the net.
Team Canada called its timeout before they evened the game with a goal off the rush by Saulnier just 24 seconds after the U.S. opened the scoring.
Team USA got the crowd going early, sustaining pressure and striking first a mere 2:37 into the game. Knight tipped Megan Bozek’s shot home and the fans erupted.“We came out for warmups and it was rocking,” said Canadian left wing Sarah Nurse, who starred at the University of Wisconsin. “There was an incredible atmosphere tonight. In Canada, the games have been equally as awesome and I think it just speaks to people wanting to see women’s hockey”
Players from both the Canadian and U.S. national teams have been striving to establish a firm, fair professional league in North America. Despite gains in player participation and national team compensation, it has been an uphill struggle to establish their game as a stable figure in the North American pro sports landscape.
Nurse who has a cousin in the NHL, the Edmonton Oilers’ Darnell Nurse; a cousin in the WNBA, the New York Liberty’s Kia Nurse; and an uncle who played in the NFL, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, said support has been strong in the athletic community.
“They know what it takes to be a professional. They know all the time, the years and the blood, sweat and tears that go into it. I have friends in the NBA, the NFL and the NHL. They all want us to be successful and they can’t believe that we’re not there yet.,” Nurse said.
The triumphant team will be in attendance tomorrow in Carson, where this rivalry will shift from the ice to the pitch. The U.S. soccer team has already qualified for the Olympics, but will continue their tuneup against their neighbors from the north.
“We’ve leaned on them for a lot of advice, guidance and support and we’ve seen them fill their buildings. It was exciting for us to fill this one tonight,” Coyne Schofield said. “Collectively, we’re in this battle and this fight together in the women’s hockey community and the women’s sports community.”
