NHL 
USA versus Canada headline first day of 2016 Women's World Championship
Credit the organizers of the 2016 Women's World Championships; if they wanted to draw interest in a tournament, they picked one heck of a way to end day one on Monday: USA versus Canada at 7:30pm PT.
While the Americans are the defending champs, the tournament is being played in Team Canada's backyard of Kamloops, British Columbia. Nothing makes the Americans happier than beating Canadians on their home soil, and likewise for our friends up north.
It's most likely the next gold medal winner will come from one of these two teams, as has been the case since 1990, via IIHF.com:
Year | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Venue |
2016 | ??? | ??? | ??? | Kamloops, CAN |
2015 | USA | Canada | Finland | Malmo, SWE |
2013 | USA | Canada | Russia | Ottawa, CAN |
2012 | Canada | USA | Switzerland | Burlington, USA |
2011 | USA | Canada | Finland | Zurich, Winterthur, SUI |
2009 | USA | Canada | Finland | Hämeenlinna, FIN |
2008 | USA | Canada | Finland | Harbin, CHN |
2007 | Canada | USA | Sweden | Winnipeg, Selkirk, CAN |
2005 | USA | Canada | Sweden | Linköping, Norröoping, SWE |
2004 | Canada | USA | Finland | Halifax, CAN |
2003 | CANCELLED |
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2001 | Canada | USA | Russia | Minneapolis, USA |
2000 | Canada | USA | Finland | Mississauga, CAN |
1999 | Canada | USA | Finland | Espoo, FIN |
1997 | Canada | USA | Finland | Kitchener, CAN |
1994 | Canada | USA | Finland | Lake Placid, USA |
1992 | Canada | USA | Finland | Tampere, FIN |
1990 | Canada | USA | Finland | Ottawa, CAN |
Canada had a stranglehold on the World Championship gold medal until 2005. Team USA finally broke through, and turned the tables over the next decade, with a few Canadian wins sprinkled in.
Until the NWHL and CWHL learn to work together, USA vs. Canada is as close to an NWHL vs. CWHL All-Star showdown as we're going to get.
Let's take a quick look at the host Canadian team first.
# | Name | Pos. | Shoots | Height | Date of Birth | Hometown | Current Team |
2 | Meghan Agosta "A" | F | L | 5’7” | 2/12/1987 | Ruthven, Ont. | Hockey Canada |
3 | Jocelyne Larocque | D | L | 5’6” | 5/19/1988 | Ste. Anne, Man. | Brampton (CWHL) |
4 | Brigette Lacquette | D | R | 5’6” | 11/11/1992 | Mallard, Man. | Calgary (CWHL) |
5 | Lauriane Rougeau | D | L | 5’8” | 4/12/1990 | Beaconsfield, Que. | Montreal (CWHL) |
6 | Rebecca Johnston | F | L | 5’9” | 9/24/1989 | Sudbury, Ont. | Calgary (CWHL) |
7 | Jamie Lee Rattray | F | L | 5’6” | 9/30/1992 | Kanata, Ont. | Brampton (CWHL) |
8 | Laura Fortino | D | L | 5’4” | 1/30/1991 | Hamilton, Ont. | Brampton (CWHL) |
9 | Jennifer Wakefield | F | R | 5’10” | 6/15/1989 | Pickering, Ont. | Linkoping HC (SWE) |
11 | Jillian Saulnier | F | L | 5’5” | 3/7/1992 | Halifax, N.S. | Calgary (CWHL) |
12 | Meaghan Mikkelson | D | R | 5’9” | 1/4/1985 | St. Albert, Alta. | Calgary (CWHL) |
17 | Bailey Bram | F | L | 5’8” | 9/5/1990 | Ste. Anne, Man. | Calgary (CWHL) |
19 | Brianne Jenner | F | R | 5’9” | 5/4/1991 | Oakville, Ont. | Calgary (CWHL) |
22 | Hayley Wickenheiser | F | R | 5’10” | 8/12/1978 | Shaunavon, Sask. | Calgary (CWHL) |
24 | Natalie Spooner | F | R | 5’10” | 10/17/1990 | Scarborough, Ont. | Toronto (CWHL) |
27 | Tara Watchorn | D | L | 5’10” | 5/30/1990 | Newcastle, Ont. | Boston (CWHL) |
29 | Marie-Philip Poulin "C" | F | L | 5’7” | 3/28/1991 | Beauceville, Que. | Montreal (CWHL) |
37 | Sarah Davis | F | L | 5’7” | 6/23/1992 | Paradise, N.L. | Calgary (CWHL) |
38 | Halli Krzyzaniak | D | R | 5’7” | 2/4/1995 | Neepawa, Man. | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
39 | Emily Clark | F | L | 5’7” | 11/28/1995 | Saskatoon, Sask. | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
40 | Blayre Turnbull | F | R | 5’7” | 7/15/1993 | Stellarton, N.S. | Calgary (CWHL) |
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# | Name | Pos. | Catches | Height | Date of Birth | Hometown | Current Team |
30 | Emerance Maschmeyer | G | L | 5’6” | 5/10/1994 | Bruderheim, Alta. | Harvard University (ECAC) |
32 | Charline Labonté | G | L | 5’9” | 10/15/1982 | Boisbriand, Que. | Montreal (CWHL) |
33 | Erica Howe | G | L | 5’9” | 7/17/1992 | Orleans, Ont. | Brampton (CWHL) |
PLAYER TO WATCH - MARIE-PHILIP POULIN
While the Canadians refer to her as the 'Golden Girl,' those of us in the States refer to her as 'American Dream Killer.' Back in Sochi, Poulin scored the game winning overtime goal that gave the Canadians the gold. She also scored two goals against the US for the gold medal in Vancouver four years prior.
She just might be the best Canadian playing hockey right now. Watch this goal from the CWHL Playoffs:
Sportsnet's play of the game is this incredible goal by @pou29 to put @LesCanadiennes up 6-1 #CWHL pic.twitter.com/KRWxNE6bF4
— CWHL Gifs (@CWHLHighlights) February 28, 2016
Although her CWHL franchise Les Canadiennes de Montreal did not take home the Clarkson Cup in mid-March, she swept the league as far as regular season awards go. She led the league in scoring with 46 points in 22 games.
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How 'bout them Americans.
# | Name | Pos. | Shoots | Height | Date of Birth | Hometown | Current Team |
2 | Lee Stecklein | D | L | 6’0” | 4/23/1994 | Roseville, Minn. | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
5 | Megan Keller | D | L | 5’11” | 5/1/1996 | Farmington, Mich. | Boston College (HEA) |
7 | Monique Lamoureux "A" | D | R | 5’6” | 7/3/1989 | Grand Forks, N.D. | Minnesota Whitecaps |
8 | Emily Pfalzer | D | R | 5’2” | 6/14/1993 | Getzville, N.Y. | Buffalo Beauts (NWHL) |
9 | Megan Bozek | D | R | 5’8” | 3/27/1991 | Buffalo Grove, Ill. | Buffalo Beauts (NWHL) |
10 | Meghan Duggan "C" | F | R | 5’10” | 9/3/1987 | Danvers, Mass. | Buffalo Beauts (NWHL) |
11 | Haley Skarupa | F | R | 5’6” | 1/3/1994 | Rockville, Md. | Boston College (HEA) |
14 | Brianna Decker | F | R | 5’4” | 5/13/1991 | Dousman, Wis. | Boston Pride (NWHL) |
16 | Kelli Stack | F | R | 5’5” | 1/13/1988 | Brooklyn Heights, Ohio | Connecticut Whale (NWHL) |
17 | Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson | F | R | 5’6” | 7/3/1989 | Grand Forks, N.D. | Minnesota Whitecaps |
21 | Hilary Knight | F | R | 5’11” | 7/12/1989 | Sun Valley, Idaho | Boston Pride (NWHL) |
22 | Kacey Bellamy "A" | D | L | 5’7” | 4/22/1987 | Westfield, Mass. | Boston Pride (NWHL) |
23 | Michelle Picard | D | L | 5’4” | 5/27/1993 | Taunton, Mass. | Harvard University (ECACH) |
24 | Shiann Darkangelo | F | L | 5’9” | 11/28/1993 | Brighton, Mich. | Connecticut Whale (NWHL) |
25 | Alex Carpenter | F | L | 5’7” | 4/13/1994 | North Reading, Mass. | Boston College (HEA) |
26 | Kendall Coyne | F | L | 5’2” | 5/25/1992 | Palos Heights, Ill. | Northeastern University (HEA) |
27 | Annie Pankowski | F | R | 5’8” | 11/4/1994 | Laguna Hills, Calif. | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
32 | Dana Trivigno | F | R | 5’4” | 1/7/1994 | Setauket, N.Y. | Boston College (HEA) |
36 | Zoe Hickel | F | R | 5’6” | 7/10/1992 | Anchorage, Alaska | Boston Pride (NWHL) |
37 | Amanda Pelkey | F | R | 5’3” | 5/29/1993 | Montpellier, Vt. | Boston Pride (NWHL) |
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# | Name | Pos. | Catches | Height | Date of Birth | Hometown | Current Team |
30 | Nicole Hensley | G | L | 5’6” | 6/23/1994 | Lakewood, Colo. | Lindenwood University (CHA) |
33 | Alex Rigsby | G | L | 5’7” | 1/3/1992 | Delafield, Wis. | Minnesota Whitecaps |
31 | Jessie Vetter | G | L | 5’8” | 12/19/1985 | Cottage Grove, Wis. | Minnesota Whitecaps |
PLAYER TO WATCH - KENDALL COYNE
Someone different than the names you're used to.
Unlike many of her teammates, Coyne isn't coming from the professional ranks, at least, not yet. The NWHL prospect just finished her senior season at Northeastern where she took home the Patty Kazmaier award as the top player in NCAA women's hockey. Coyne's college career ended with her scoring 249 points in 133 games.
Coyne is not new to international play with the US women's national team. She's just not around as much as the Whitecaps and NWHL players are with each other. After two-ish weeks of training camp, fitting back into game play shouldn't be much of an issue.
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GAME #1: Monday, March 28 at 7:30pm PT (10:30pm ET)
We'll have a recap afterwards for those who can't catch the game.
TOURNAMENT BROADCAST INFO - United States
NHL Network US will air all Team USA games. With the exception of the game tonight against Canada and the gold medal game, the broadcasts will be tape delayed.
DATE | OPPONENT | ROUND | TIME (LOCAL/ET) | STATUS |
Mon., March 28 | Canada | Preliminary | 7:30 p.m./10:30 p.m. | Live |
Wed. March, 30 | Finland | Preliminary | 10 a.m./1 p.m. | Delay (Originally Mar. 29) |
Fri., Apr. 1 | Russia | Preliminary | 10 a.m./1 p.m. | Delay (Originally Mar. 31) |
Sat., Apr. 2 | TBD* | Quarterfinal | 9:30 a.m. /12:30 p.m. | Delay (Originally Apr. 1) |
Mon., Apr. 4 | TBD* | Semifinal | 10 a.m./1 p.m. | Delay (Originally Apr. 3) |
Mon., Apr. 4 | TBD* | Gold Medal | 7:30 p.m./10:30 p.m. | Live |
Tues., Apr. 5 | TBD* | Bronze Medal | 10 a.m./1 p.m. | Delay (Originally Apr. 4) |
* will only air if Team USA is in the game | ||||
NOTE: There is no (legal) stream available in the United States.
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TOURNAMENT BROADCAST INFO - Canada
TSN has stepped up to deliver exclusive coverage of the tournament on their vast array of platforms. Check your local listings.
"... Running March 28 to April 4, TSN delivers more coverage of the tournament than ever before, with complete live coverage of Team Canada’s round robin games and every playoff game on TSN platforms.
"... TSN subscribers can access live streaming and on-demand viewing of the network’s exclusive live coverage of the 2016 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP through TSN GO. Fans can also visit TSN.ca for news, extended highlights, must-see clips, SPORTSCENTRE features, interviews, and more.
"TSN Radio stations across Canada – including TSN 1410 in Vancouver, TSN 690 in Montréal, TSN 1290 in Winnipeg, TSN 1260 in Edmonton, and TSN 1150 in Hamilton – along with Radio NL (AM 610) in Kamloops deliver live coverage of select games from the 2016 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (see below for TSN Radio’s broadcast schedule) ... TSN Radio’s coverage can also be live streamed on each station’s website and on the TSN GO app.
"RDS delivers French-language coverage of Team Canada at the 2016 IIHF WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP."
The United States plays host next year. Hopefully, broadcasters will provide the same amount of coverage as their Canadian counterparts.
For information on teams not from the United States and Canada, one great site to check out is Along The Board's Women's World Championship coverage, and their nation by nation previews. Additional tournament information presented by the IIHF is at WorldWomen2016.com.
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Jen Neale is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @MsJenNeale_PD.
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