Photo by Shellie M. Szwast / Princeton Athletics
Next In: Who Might Canada And USA Call On Next
The first two stops of the USA-Canada Rivalry Series are in the books, with a number of players making their senior national team debuts.
For Canada, it was Jessica DiGirolamo and Sophie Jaques. Corinne Schroeder was named to the team, but did not see game action.
For Team USA, the lone newcomer was Laila Edwards, who also earned the distinction as the first ever Black woman to play for USA's national women's hockey team.
With the next stops on the Rivalry Series only weeks away, here's a look at who's next in line to get the call from Team USA and Team Canada.
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Canada
Danielle Serdachny wasn't called on for Canada in the first Rivalry Series stops, but she remains a top-five scorer in the NCAA and made her senior national debut with Canada at the 2023 Worlds. She seems a likely contender to cycle into Canada's lineup. Jennifer Gardiner competed at Canada's camp this Fall, and is playing well for Ohio State, scoring big game goals for her school, and while her production has take a dip this year, Anne Cherkowski's overall effectiveness with Clarkson has not. Given Maggie Connors' spot with PWHL Toronto, she's another name that could draw in as Troy Ryan and Gina Kingsbury look to see what one of their young players can do internationlly. On the back end, Canada looked unsteady in their opening games against the USA. Giving an opportunity to Sara Swiderski based on her play at Canada's Fall Selection Camp makes sense. She showed her mobility and puck moving traits, and given how poorly Canada's defense played against USA the first two games, the nation has nothing to lose by inserting a young player. Nicole Gosling also deserves a longer look on the blueline after a solid Fall camp with Canada, and the fact she's off to a spectacular start with Clarkson this year. In net, it seems overdue that Corinne Schroeder is not only invited, but given a start. Her play has earned the opportunity, while other Canadian goalies have faltered with their chances.
Eyes On The Future: Canada has been slow bringing top stars forward, but they'll be hard pressed to wait giving looks to players like Jocelyn Amos, Caitlin Kraemer, Jade Iginla, Abby Stonehouse, and Chloe Primerano in the coming years.
USA
If any player has earned an opportunity up front, it's Kirsten Simms, who has been brilliant for Wisconsin this year in the NCAA. There is no player in Canada or USA's lineup who handles the puck like Simms, and in the right situation, she could provide an immediate jolt to USA's already potent offense. Up front, Izzy Daniel has also played her way into an opportunity, sitting atop NCAA scoring alongside Simms for portions of this season already. Leading Cornell, she may be the top contender for the Patty Kazmaier Award early on. Other forwards who could get an early look from USA include Joy Dunne, Elyssa Biederman, Kiara Zanon, and Casey O'Brien. On the blueline, Emma Peschel and Sydney Morrow have had spectacular starts to their NCAA seasons. The problem with USA's blueline is that there are no problems, and stealing a spot will require injuries, or a decline in play. To give these young players a look, USA might cycle out Anna Wilgren or Natalie Buchbinder, but also have Lee Stecklein to return, and at some point, Caroline Harvey who remains out with an injury. Ally Simpson is another leading contender, who plays a solid two-way game that USA can rely on.
Eyes On The Future: Grace Dwyer, Ava Lindsay, Annelies Bergmann, Laney Potter, Ellah Hause, Ella Boerger, Rylee Bartz, Finley McCarthy, Sammy Taber, Maggie Scannell
