For years, Canada was the more dominant international power in women's hockey. Canada won the first eight World Championship gold medals, and still holds a slight edge with 13 gold to USA's 11 at the event. Canada has also won five of the seven Olympic gold medals ever contested.
While the scales are tipped toward Canada historically, the future doesn't simply look red and white, it's starting to look more red, white and blue. In terms of sheer numbers, USA is rapidly closing the gap. In 2024, registration numbers grew to 98,394 in the United States compared to Canada's more than 115,000. In Canada the growth represented a 2.4% increase, while in the United States a 5.11% increase was observed.
But it's not just quantity, it's quality.
USA Currently Producing More High End Talent
Canada has forever relied on volume to find their next star, but USA Hockey has truly cultivated waves of talent that recently, have found ways to outpace Canada. While it hasn't translated to dominance on the IIHF stage, yet, the time may soon arrive.
In the 2025 PWHL Draft, 24 American players were selected representing 50% of all players picked. Canada's number was 16, equivalent to 33%.
THe 2024 PWHL Draft showed similar results with 20 American players selected compared to 13 Canadians in the 42 player draft.
When you dig deeper, nine of the top 10 scorers in the NCAA last season were American, with only Ohio State's Jocelyn Amos making the list at ninth. The next Canadian on the list was Izzy Wunder at 11th, but Wunder has been completely ignored by Hockey Canada.
The American players at the top of the NCAA scoring ladder include National Team members Caroline Harvey, Laila Edwards, Abbey Murphy, Kirsten Simms, Tessa Janecke, Lacey Eden, and Elyssa Biederman who will all join the PWHL Draft this year, along with other top American prospects like Emma Peschel and Sydney Morrow who will dominate the top of the 2026 PWHL Draft. Joy Dunne who was sixth in scoring nationally is the leading contender to go first overall in 2027.
As Stars Age Out, Stars And Stripes Look Ready
USA has their share of veterans who will eventually move on from international hockey. Hilary Knight has already announced the 2026 Olympics will be her last. Knight, 36, is the oldest player on USA's current national team. She's joined by several players in their 30s including Kendall Coyne Schofield (33), Alex Carpenter (31), Hayley Scamurra (30), and Lee Stecklein (31).
But the reinforcements are ready. And they continue to fight for national team spots.
Canada however, has an even larger group of aging veterans, and far fewer standouts ready to step in. Canada's list includes Ann-Renee Desbiens (31), Erin Ambrose (31), Renata Fast (30), Jocelyne Larocque (37), Brianne Jenner (34), Sarah Nurse (30), Marie-Philip Poulin (34), Natalie Spooner (34), Laura Stacey (31), and Blayre Turnbull (32).
Seeing the influx of stars from the United States turning pro in the PWHL, a number overshadowing Canada's numbers, it should give cause for concern for Hockey Canada. Canada certainly has standouts like Eve Gascon, Caitlin Kraemer, and Chloe Primerano ready to go, but USA's core are all in the first seasons of their pro careers, or still in college.
Canada and USA will remain worthy opponents, but while the scale was tipped toward Canada in the early years of the rivalry, it's beginning to shift south toward the United States.