U.S. downs Canada 4-1 in women’s hockey, sweeps Rivalry Series

Canada players celebrates a goal against the United States during second period Rivalry Series action in Edmonton on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson (JASON FRANSON)

EDMONTON — Canada improved, but not enough to beat the United States in the fourth and final game of their women’s hockey Rivalry Series.

The U.S. downed the hosts 4-1 in Edmonton on Saturday to sweep the four-game series and outscore the Canadians 24-7 overall.

The Canadian women competed harder and were more connected than in a 10-4 debacle three nights earlier in Edmonton, but lost their final game to their archrivals before February’s Olympic Games.

“Nothing awesome comes easy,” said Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin. “We know there’s work to be done. I don’t think we can take those four games and get down on ourselves.”

U.S. captain Hilary Knight, who has said she’ll retire from international hockey after her fifth Olympic Games, scored twice, including an empty-net goal in front of an announced 7,722 at Rogers Place.

The 36-year-old scored the only goal in the first ever Rivalry Series game between the two countries back on Feb. 12, 2019.

“It’s special to be able to represent your country and to play against an awesome powerhouse of a hockey team as well,” Knight said. “We’re on the fortunate side of this year’s (series) and that felt pretty good.”

Defenders Laila Edwards and Caroline Harvey scored the visitors’ first two goals of the game, and goaltender Aerin Frankel stopped 23 shots.

Taylor Heise had two assists for a series-leading eight.

Brianne Jenner scored Canada’s lone goal, and Ann-Renée Desbiens made 28 saves in net.

Canada trailed 2-1 in the third period when Knight threw a sharp-angled shot on net that beat Desbiens between her pads at 11:29 for an insurance goal.

The Canadians had 17 seconds of a six-on-four power play to end the game, but didn’t score again.

Not enough time spent in the offensive zone and giving the U.S. too much of it, was veteran forward Brianne Jenner’s assessment.

“We did a better job getting pucks to the net, but if you play in the offensive zone you’re going to draw penalties more,” she said.

The U.S. won the first two games 4-1 in Cleveland and 6-1. After giving up a worst-ever 10 goals to their archrivals, the Canadians wanted to wrest a measure of momentum back in their final meeting with the U.S. before their preliminary-round game in the Olympic tournament Feb. 10 in Milan, Italy.

“We showed up today,” Poulin said. “From puck drop I think we were more physical, we were more structured. Our penalty kill did amazing tonight.”

Canada held the U.S. power play scoreless on four chances Saturday. The Americans went 6 for 17 and Canada 3 for 12 overall in the series.

There was more extracurricular pushing and shoving after whistles than in the third game.

Canada’s two college skaters, forward Caitlin Kraemer (Minnesota-Duluth) and defender Chloe Primerano (Minnesota), drew in Saturday for forward Danielle Serdachny and defender Nicole Gosling, who played Wednesday.

Hockey Canada is expected to name its 23-player Olympic roster in early January. Canada opens defence of its gold medal Feb. 4 against Finland in Milan, Italy.

Canada’s players will disperse to their respective PWHL clubs or college teams before reconvening for a mini-camp in Europe.

“Not a whole lot of time together, but a lot of time to prep,” Jenner said. “It comes down to our discipline, our individual prep, the way we show up at our college teams, at our PWHL (teams) for the next however many weeks. We’re committed to put in that work.”

Canada outshot the U.S. 12-6 in the first period, but the visitors carried an 18-8 advantage in the second.

Edwards gave the visitors a 2-1 lead at 7:29 of the second when she wired a cross-ice pass from Heise upstairs on Desbiens.

Harvey’s shot deflected off Canadian defender Primerano battling with Abbey Murphy at the crease, and by Desbiens at 5:13 for the first goal of the game.

Canada drew even a minute later off a neutral zone turnover. Jenn Gardiner backhanded a pass to Jenner in the slot for the latter to rifle over Frankel’s glove.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 13, 2025.

Donna Spencer, The Canadian Press