On Feb. 6 Blayre Turnbull and Hilary Knight lined up for a ceremonial puck drop in Halifax’s Scotiabank Centre, before their two nations faced off in game four of the 2024-2025 Rivalry Series.
Established in 2018, the Rivalry Series was introduced by Hockey Canada and USA Hockey in an effort to showcase the highest level of “best-on-best” women’s hockey in venues across Canada and The United States. Evolving from its original three game format, the Rivalry Series is now a five game competition between both countries’ women’s national teams.
The 2024-2025 series
The 2024-2025 series began with three games hosted in The United States, where The United States took game one in San Jose, Calif., before falling to Canada in both Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho in games two and three. Halifax and Summerside, P.E.I. hosted games four and five, respectively.
At the Scotiabank Centre, trailing 1-0 most of the game, Canada called a timeout with two minutes remaining. Nova Scotia native Blayre Turnbull erupted the sold out crowd the following play to send the game to overtime. However The United States would get the best of Canada in a shootout.
Despite their loss at home, with the series tied 2-2 headed into the final game, Canada ultimately took the victory, defeating The United States 3-1 in the fifth and final game.
Women’s sports in Canada
But the Rivalry Series is bigger than a long-standing competition between two neighbouring countries, and although Canada may not have earned the results they had hoped for in game four; women’s hockey in Halifax took home a huge win.
Marie-Philip Poulin, the Canadian hockey legend who flew on the ice, earned an ovation everytime she received the puck.
“In women’s sports, nothing is easy,” Poulin said at the post game conference. “But I think when you surround yourself with great people, when you believe in yourself, when you dream big — there’s no dream that is big enough, so believe in yourself and go for it.”
With the recent establishment and success of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), the announcement of a Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) franchise in Toronto and the establishment of the Northern Super League (NSL); it’s been a huge year for women’s sports across the nation. There’s never been a better time for girls to try their hand at sports, and Halifax used the momentum of the Rivalry Series to fuel this trend.
The day before the Halifax game, Hockey Canada and Hockey Nova Scotia hosted “Girls Hockey Development Night” which featured both a free skate event with the Canadian national women’s team, and a coach and official development session, led by Nova Scotia’s very own Troy Ryan and Kori Cheverie, who respectively serve as head and assistant coach of the women’s national team. These events also coincided with National Girls and Women in Sports Day, a day to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of women in sport, and to encourage female participation in all levels of athletics. These events gave over 100 participants the once in a lifetime opportunity to skate with and meet their heroes.
Opening doors
But it’s not just the athletic side of the industry where female participation is on the rise. In a post-game interview with Laura Stacey, who played her 100th game for team Canada in Halifax, commented on the increase in female representation when asked about the growth of the sport since she started with the program in 2010.
“Even standing right here I’m surrounded by female reporters,” Stacey said. “That’s new, that’s amazing, and I think it’s not just us on the ice, it’s the coaching, it’s the reporting; it’s opening up so many more doors for girls and women.”
Further to her point, earlier in the week, the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame welcomed some of the biggest names in women’s hockey for a speaker panel and meet and greet event titled “Up Close & Personal with Team Canada.” Amongst these individuals was Kenzie Lalonde, current TSN broadcaster, who is both the first woman to provide play-by-play commentary for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) on television, and recently became the first to provide play-by-play commentary for a Canadian NHL broadcast.
Despite their team losing, fans left Scotiabank Centre inspired, with the real victory being the undeniable growth and increased support of women’s hockey in Halifax.
“I wish when I was a kid I had that exact same opportunity, I think hopefully every single one of those girls leaves this rink here tonight with a dream,” Stacey said.
Recent Comments