The Canadian women’s hockey team is set to have familiar faces return for their upcoming pre-Olympic games in Edmonton next week. The final two games of the 2025-26 Canada-United States Rivalry Series will take place on December 10 and 13 at Edmonton’s Rogers Place, with both games starting at 9 p.m. ET.
A total of twenty players who participated in the first leg of the Rivalry Series last month will be back in the 25-player roster as the Canadian coaching staff finalizes roster decisions. The announcement of the 23-player Olympic team is expected in January before their first game on February 5 against Finland.
Canadian GM Gina Kingsbury emphasized the importance of these upcoming games in the team’s preparations for the Milano Cortina Games, which are less than 70 days away. A total of thirty players have been part of the Canadian team’s training sessions leading up to these games, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate all contenders for a spot on the Olympic team.
Notable additions to the roster include Ottawa Charge forward Emily Clark, who is making her Rivalry Series debut after recovering from an injury that sidelined her in November. Veterans Jocelyne Larocque and Brianne Jenner, along with starting goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens and rookie defender Nicole Gosling, are also included in the roster.
However, Vancouver Goldeneyes forward Sarah Nurse will not be participating in the second leg of the Rivalry Series due to a lower-body injury sustained during the Goldeneyes’ inaugural franchise game.
The United States currently leads the Rivalry Series 2-0 after convincing victories in Buffalo and Cleveland in November, outscoring Canada 10-2. Despite the setbacks, Kingsbury expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform well in front of their fans and hometown crowd as they complete the series.
The final Canadian roster will also consider performances in the PWHL and NCAA games, with the PWHL schedule pausing for the Rivalry Series and resuming on December 16. The roster includes a mix of experienced players and promising talents across positions, aiming to build a competitive team for the upcoming challenges.