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Rivalry Series Notebook: U.S. Women Prepare for Series Finale in Anaheim

By USA Hockey, 02/06/20, 7:30PM EST

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Follow along as the Team USA competes in the 2019-20 Rivalry Series

After defeating Canada, 4-1, and 2-1 in the opening two contests of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series last December, the U.S. Women's National Team arrived in Irvine, California for training camp ahead of the final three games in the five-game slate.

The U.S. dropped a 3-2 overtime decision to Canada Monday (Feb. 3) at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre in Victoria, British Columbia before earning a 3-1 win in Wednesday's (Feb. 5) game in Vancouver to take a 3-1 lead in the series. Puck drop for the series finale in Anaheim, California is slated for 7 p.m. PT and will be televised on NHL Network.

Follow along for a behind the scenes look with the daily notebook. 


U.S. Women Prepare for Series Finale in Anaheim

February 7, 2020

RECORD ALERT: Tomorrow's (Feb. 8) game at the Honda Center is anticipated to have a crowd of 11,000-plus on hand when the U.S. and Canada meet in the final game of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series. The most attended women's national team game in the U.S. (including Olympic competition) had 10,158 spectators on Jan. 6, 2002, when the U.S. faced Canada at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, Michigan.

TICKET DROP: The U.S. takes on Canada in the finale of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series. Before the big day, Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill.), Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) and Emily Matheson (Buffalo, N.Y.) joined schoolers from Richman Elementary School in Fullerton, California to drop off tickets to tomorrow's game and play street hockey with the kids. 

 


Team USA Arrives in Anaheim for Rivalry Series Finale

February 6, 2020

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN: Team USA arrived back in Los Angeles today after a week spent in Canada. The U.S. takes a 3-1 lead heading into the Series finale on Saturday (Feb. 8) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.  Puck drop is slated for 7 p.m. PT and will be broadcast live on NHL Network. Tickets are on sale by clicking here.

MORE MILESTONES: Katie Burt (Lynn, Mass.) picked up her first win in goal as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team in yesterday's 3-1 win over Canada. She made 11 saves in the victory. 

 


U.S. Women Claim Game 4 with 3-1 Win in Vancouver

February 6, 2020

GAME FOUR: The U.S. Women’s National Team used a pair of third period goals on the way to a 3-1 victory over Canada in game four of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series here tonight at Rogers Arena. Katie Burt (Lynn, Mass.) stopped 11 shots to pick up the win in goal, her first as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team. Team USA will depart for Anaheim tomorrow afternoon.

Saturday's U.S.-Canada match-up at Honda Center in Anaheim will be the most attended women's national hockey team game ever played on U.S. soil as more than 11,000 tickets have already been sold. The current record of 10,158 spectators was set on Jan. 6, 2002, when the U.S. faced Canada at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. 


Team USA Arrives in Vancouver for Game 4

February 4, 2020

CANADA TOUR COMES TO CLOSE: The U.S. Women's National Team reached its final Canadian destination of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series this morning, taking the Tswwassen Ferry back to Vancouver from Victoria following yesterday's game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre. The team will play the fourth game of the five-game slate at Rogers Arena tomorrow at 7 p.m. PT, and the contest will be broadcast live on NHL Network in the U.S.

A GOLDEN HOST: After practice, Team USA and staff bussed from the hotel to the suburbs of Vancouver to join world champion, Olympian and USA Hockey legend Cammi Granato (Downers Grove, Ill.) and her family for dinner at her home. The team watched NHL games, played a few rounds of basement soccer and ate a delicious dinner before calling it a night.

 


U.S. Women Fall to Canada, 3-2, in Victoria

February 3, 2020

Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) recorded her 200th career point as a member of the U.S. Women's National Team with a second period power play goal, but Canada's Victoria Bach scored at 3:22 of the five-minute three-on-three overtime period to give the hosts a 3-2 victory in game three of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series.

Savannah Harmon (Downers Grove, Ill.) also recorded her first goal as a senior national team player, and Nicole Hensley (Lakewood, Colo.) made 20 saves in goal for the U.S.

The U.S. leads the best-of-five series two-games-to-one heading into Wednesday's (Feb. 5) contest in Vancouver. Opening faceoff is set for 7 p.m. PT and the game will be televised live by NHL Network.


U.S. Women Prepare for Game 3 of Rivalry Series

February 2, 2020

GEARING UP FOR GAMEDAY: After a much-needed night of sleep following a busy travel day, the U.S. got its first skate in at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre ahead of Game 3 of the 2019-20 Rivalry Series. After practice and cool down, the team and staff walked over to Bard and Banker to eat dinner and watch Super Bowl LIV before heading back to the hotel to turn in early.

DID YOU KNOW? Fifteen of the 23 skaters on the Team USA roster competed in last year’s inaugural Rivalry Series. Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho) led the U.S. in scoring with three points (1G, 2A), and Alex Cavallini (Delafield, Wis.) notched a 1.02 goals against average and a .960 save clip in two games. 


U.S. Women Travel to Victoria, B.C. For Third Series Matchup

February 1, 2020

PLANES, FERRIES AND AUTOMOBILES: Team USA flew out of Los Angeles International Airport this morning in the first leg of today’s travel day. After arriving in Vancouver, the team managed stopped in the town of Delta for a quick bite to eat before heading for the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. The ferry to Vancouver Island, which took just over an hour, reached Victoria at 8:30 p.m. The team passed the time on the ferry playing cards, catching up on work and watching two-time Olympian and goaltending coach Brianne McLaughlin-Bittle (Sheffield Village, Ohio) draw farm animals!

The U.S. will spend the next two days in Victoria, culminating in a 7:30 p.m. PT contest against Canada at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre on Monday (Feb. 3). Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre is the largest arena in British Columbia outside of Vancouver. It is currently the home of the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League, and previously served as the home arena of the Victoria Salmon Kings of the ECHL. Completed in 2005, the arena holds 7,400 spectators. 


Team USA Rounds out Training Camp in Irvine 

January 31, 2020

A SPECIAL VISIT: After a pancake breakfast, the last day of our training camp in Irvine began with a mental skills session. To lead the session, U.S. soccer legends Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm and Tisha Venturini joined players and staff at the hotel to share about their time as members of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team and discuss the importance of camaraderie and teamwork.

The session also included a presentation on the late Kobe Bryant and his impact both as an elite athlete and teammate, and his legacy on the game of basketball and sports as a whole.

TICKET DROP: In between the skills session and today’s scrimmage, members of Team USA visited Maxwell Elementary School to drop off tickets for next Saturday’s (Feb. 8) game against Canada. After delivering the tickets, the players stuck around to play street hockey with the kids at the school’s very own (and well-attended) Dek hockey rink.

While the others played street hockey at school, another group of players stopped by Irvine Spectrum Center to sign autographs, take pictures and promote the upcoming games. 

SCRIMMAGE: The U.S. rounded out its training camp at Great Park Ice and Fivepoint Arena with a scrimmage against the 16U Jr. Ducks. Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) tallied two goals and Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.) and Hayley Scamurra (Williamsville, N.Y.) added goals as the U.S. defeated the Jr. Ducks by a 5-3 count. All three goaltenders saw time in the net for the U.S., combining for 12 saves. 


Skating with Anaheim Ducks, Lady Ducks in Double Training Day

January 30, 2020

DOUBLE DAY: After an early night in, Team USA hit the ice for a double-practice day. During both the morning and afternoon sessions, the team worked on drills and scrimmaging before ending with more fitness.

DUCKS (AND USWNT) FLY TOGETHER: Following morning practice, the team joined the Anaheim Ducks on Rink 3 for a friendly scrimmage. The Ducks, who defeated the Arizona Coyotes, 4-2, last night at Honda Center, and the U.S. mixed teams for a quick five-on-five scrimmage before ending the skatearound with a shootout that closed with a bar-down shot from Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho).

LADY DUCKS VISIT: At the conclusion of the team’s afternoon practice, members of the 12U and 10U Lady Ducks program, based out of Orange County, took the ice to meet and skate with their heroes. The players and members of Team USA split into teams for some small-ice scrimmages before taking a group photo and signing jerseys and sticks.

NUTRITION PRESENTATION: In between practices, sports dietician Shelly Guzman-Johnson (Seattle, Wash.) gave a presentation on the importance of proper hydration in sports performance. Guzman-Johnson explained what poor hydration does to performance and how to reach the appropriate hydration threshold before giving the players some tips on how to stay hydrated throughout the day and night.

GOLD MEDALISTS MEET GOLD MEDALISTS: On their way into the rink, the team bumped into figure skating duo Alexa and Christopher Knierim. The pair, who recently won gold in the free skate at the 2020 TOYOTA U.S. Figure Skating Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina, stopped to chat with players and take a photo before heading into the rink for their training.


U.S. Women Skate in First Practice of Training Camp

January 29, 2020

FIRST PRACTICE IN THE BOOKS: The players hit the ice for their first practice of training camp today at Great Ice Park and Fivepoint Arena. The team worked on drills, small-ice games and fitness. In addition to several other visitors at the open practice, boys from the Optimum Hockey Academy, housed in the arena, came to Rink 4 during their lunch break to watch the team practice.

POOL PARTY: After practice and cooldown, the team headed to Annie Pankowski’s family home in Laguna Hills, just a 15-minute drive down the road, for an afternoon pool party. The team-only party was filled with swimming, a Chipotle lunch and some great team bonding. After the party, the team came back to the hotel to receive treatments and relax ahead of tomorrow’s double-practice day.

STAFF OUTING: While the team enjoyed the party at the Pankowski house, the staff took the night off to enjoy a staff dinner of award-winning tacos, corn appetizers and chips and guacamole at Puesto before heading to Anaheim for the Ducks-Coyotes game at the Honda Center.

DID YOU KNOW? From 1993 to 1996, head coach Bob Corkum played professional hockey for the Anaheim Ducks. In 168 contests, Corkum tallied 38 goals, 44 assists and 82 points.


U.S. Women Arrive in Irvine for Training Camp

January 28, 2020

HELLO CALIFORNIA: Players and staff arrived in sunny Irvine, California today ahead of training camp. Staff helped set up the locker rooms and training areas as players came in from all over the country. After dropping off bags and eating an outdoor lunch at the hotel, the team met at Great Park and Fivepoint Ice Rink, practice rink of the Anaheim Ducks, for their first team meeting led by head coach Bob Corkum. The players then reconvened at the hotel for dinner and turned in early to get a good night's sleep before the first practice tomorrow morning. 

DID YOU KNOW: Annie Pankowski is the lone California-native on the 23-player roster. The Laguna Hills, Calif., native grew up just 20 minutes down away from the Ducks' new practice arena in Irvine. In addition, Pankowski is a product of the Anaheim Lady Ducks Youth Girls Hockey program, a female hockey program that began in 1999. 

ABOUT THE ARENA: Great Park Ice and Fivepoint Arena first opened to the public on Jan. 2, 2019. A state-of-the-art facility, the arena houses for ice sheets, including both NHL and Olympic rinks, and serves at the practice rink for the Anaheim Ducks. In addition, both local youth hockey and figure skating programs call the rink home. 


2020 WNT Camp

2019-20 Rivalry Series


2019-20 Series Schedule

Date Opponent TIME (ET)/Result Location Broadcast Tickets/U.S. Player Of The Game Game Stats
Sat., Dec. 14* Canada W, 4-1 XL Center
Hartford, Conn.
NBCSN Alex Cavallini Stats
Tue., Dec. 17 Canada W, 2-1 Avenir Centre
Moncton, N.B.
NHL Network Alex Carpenter Stats
Mon., Feb. 3 Canada L, 2-3 (OT) Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Victoria, B.C
NHL Network Hilary Knight Stats
Wed., Feb. 5 Canada W, 3-1 Rogers Arena
Vancouver, B.C.
NHL Network Katie Burt Stats
Sat., Feb. 8 Canada W, 4-3 (OT) Honda Center
Anaheim, Calif.
NHL Network Megan Bozek Stats

*The December 14 game in Hartford was part of the 2019 Team USA Champions Series, presented by Xfinity.

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