Canada and USA Excited To Decide Development Series This Weekend

After USA won the opening game of the 2024 women’s National Team Development Series, Canada found a way to hold on for the win in game two. Players from both teams are exciting to play a now deciding game this weekend.

Canada jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period against USA. After Callie Shanahan made a few big saves for USA, Emma Venusio came down the left call and beat Shanahan short side from an outside bad angle. In the last minute of the frame Canada added another as Avi Adam took a net front pass from Jordan Baxter behind the goal to make it 2-0. It was the quick start Canada needed after struggling out of the gate in game one.

“I thought everyone did a good job, we came out ready to play,” said Canada’s Emmalee Pais. “I think we executed all three periods.”

USA came out in the second looking to claw back into the game. They immediately put Canada on their heels until Joy Dunne banged home a puck in the crease to cut Canada’s lead to 2-1.

USA continued to apply pressure in the second. Kirsten Simms knotted the game at 2-2 firing a wrist shot from the slot that beat Gascon high on the blocker side.

With the game tied however, Joy Dunne took a five minute major for boarding downing Canada’s Ashley Messier. On the ensuing powerplay Sarah Paul fired a seeing eye shot through traffic to beat Shanahan and make it 3-2 Canada.

In the third period, Anne Cherkowski extended Canada’s lead to 4-2, but finding themselves in penalty trouble, Laila Edwards wired home a shot with a two player advantage to pull USA back within one.

With time winding down, USA pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, but the puck quickly landed on Emmalee Pais’ stick, and she made no mistake to give Canada the 5-3 win.

Despite the fact USA entered the series with nine members of their senior national team on the roster, Canada has played the Americans tough, which is no surprise to USA national team veteran Lacey Eden who is also suiting up for the Development Team this week.

“Any time you play Canada, any time there’s a US vs. Canada rivalry, it’s going to be competitive games,” said Eden. “Two close games, that just goes to show how good both these programs are. It’s been a battle on the ice and I’m excited for the deciding game on Saturday.”

With the teams each having won a game, Saturday’s 7:30pm game will decide the Development Series.

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