Players To Watch In Canada And USA's Pre-Tournament Series

Canada and USA are set to drop the puck on a two-game pre-World Championship series as the nations enter the 2026 Worlds on differing trajectories, and with what could feel like a new start to the rivalry.

For many, like 18-year-old Rosalie Tremblay, there will be 'welcome to the show' moments facing PWHL and American legends. For Canada, it will be the first look at a remodelled national team roster. For USA, the games will be the final chance for roster selections. And everyone is still playing for positioning within both rosters.

The series will be filled with intriguing match ups, first looks, and fresh starts. 

There's a lot of excitement surrounding Rosalie Tremblay in Canada right now. She represents the tip of the iceberg for a talented group of young Canadian forwards who are now part of, or soon to be part of Canada's national team. But expectations need to remain realistic for the group, especially stepping on the ice against a talented and experienced American roster. One thing to expect is that Tremblay is going to get better every game, and these first two will be the learning experience of her young career.

USA's only NCAA defender this season is also the top defensive prospect among potential 2027 PWHL Draft picks. Potter is leading Wisconsin's blueline, enters camp having played eight games already this season while no other defender has seen game action in six months. Potter may also be the best candidate to steal a spot as the 7th or 8th defender on the roster, although she'll be in a heated battle with Emma Peschel and Sydney Morrow. She's big, she's mobile, and she can impact the game along the walls and at both blue lines.

At 30, Rebecca Leslie is about to make her international debut for Canada at the World Championships. It's the kind of story that would never have been possible without the PWHL to give Leslie the platform to earn opportunities, be seen, and prove herself against the best in the world. After a breakout campaign with the Ottawa Charge, the consensus was that Leslie, who played two games for Canada at the Rivalry Series in 2021, was not a passenger in Ottawa, but instead the driver of their offense. Canada needs more drivers. Leslie brings speed and skill up front, infusing another layer beyond what Daryl Watts has already brought to Canada. While there were more experience players in camp, Leslie is a veteran, but one that brings a skillset that helps Canada match better against the United States stylisically.

Primerano has had an incredible start to 2026-27. From the moment she stepped on the ice with Canada's national development team this summer, Primerano looked like she was dialled in, and had dialled up her play several notches. Primerano was seeing regular power play repetitions in Canada's national team camp, and has been a force in the NCAA with Minnesota. It's all a small sample size, and it means very little until it's Team USA barrelling down the ice at you, but Primerano looks ready to step into a primary role with Canada, perhaps even in their top four.

Can Casey O'Brien finally crack a roster spot with the United States? She's certainly good enough to be at this event and on Team USA. The American national team has a wealth of forward depth in the system when it's a decision between players like O'Brien, Lacey Eden, and Kirsten Simms to see who will be USA's 13th and 14th forwards. O'Brien had a stellar rookie year in the PWHL last season, being named to the league's All-Rookie team, only a season removed from leading the NCAA in scoring and winning the Patty Kazmaier Award. O'Brien could step in and find a role.