(Laval) On the eve of the final game of the Rivalry Series, Caroline Ouellette, ex-star of the Canadian selection turned assistant coach, had launched a reflection which clashed a little with the craze preceding a game number 7.
Referring to the “shadow” that hangs over Canadian hockey, an explicit reference to the scandals that have hit the junior boys’ ranks over the past year, she wondered, as the mother of two little girls, what her relationship would be with this sport if it was not his job. “We need positive,” she said, praising how her players were the “best models” that can exist for the younger generation.
There was no shortage of positives on Wednesday night at Place Bell in Laval. In this final meeting, which began with a 3-3 tie in the series between the two historic rivals, the Canadians made short work of their opponents by winning by a score of 5-0.
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Brianne Jenner (19) and Marie-Philip Poulin (29)
After a rather quiet start to the match, the Maple Leaf players opened the floodgates in the second period, with four goals in less than 10 minutes which galvanized the spectators. In the third, “we didn’t want to slow down,” said striker Laura Stacey. Despite a resurgence of visitors, goalkeeper Ann-Renée Desbiens closed the door and kept her shutout, a first for her against the United States since returning to the national program in 2019.
Scorer of the second goal, Marie-Philip Poulin was moved to see “all these little girls and these little boys in the stands”.
She spoke of the “pride” and “honor” that her teammates and they feel each time they “wear this logo”.
“Every time we have the chance to do it, we will do it with great class, she promised, echoing, without knowing it, the words of Caroline Ouellette. “I think we proved that today,” she added.
Ann-Renée Desbiens agreed. “The impact we have in the community is even more important than the victories on the ice,” she said. We want to win, that’s for sure, but we want to make our sport a safe sport, so that people want to have their girls and boys play in it. We will do everything to make our sport better. »
PHOTO GRAHAM HUGHES, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Ann-Renée Desbiens signed a shutout.
However, the goalkeeper was not going to hide her pleasure following this final triumph. Laughing, she was delighted, seeing her teammates score goal after goal in the second period, not to be in the shoes of her opponent.
As for her shutout, she took it lightly, mentioning that even if she had given a goal late at the end of the game, what mattered most to her was “to win the match”. It’s done.
Towards the Worlds
You have to take this Rivalry Series for what it is. Winning it was certainly a priority for both clubs, but in this first year of the Olympic cycle, development is at the heart of the process, especially in the American camp.
Over the seven duels, “we presented three different formations,” recalled American striker Hilary Knight at the end of the evening. She loved seeing her teammates, many of whom are very young, play with “pride” in the third period, despite a virtually impossible to make up deficit.
At the World Championship, played in two months in Ontario, “everything will be different,” she predicted.
In the Canadian camp, even if we are carried away by the proverbial “momentum” acquired in this series, the trend of which was reversed after three American victories as a curtain raiser, “we take everything with a grain of salt”, warned the head coach Troy Ryan.
“We are happy, of course, but we know that success here does not mean that we will be successful at the World Championship,” he summed up.
Nevertheless, we can expect to see a formation relatively similar to that which, during the last year, won the World Cup and won an Olympic gold medal.
This team also seems to have reached a level of mastery that comes dangerously close to perfection. During the Rivalry Series, “we found different ways to win,” analyzed Ann-Renée Desbiens. Sometimes by exploding offensively, sometimes by closing the game to opposing attacks.
Above all, different female players seem to stand out on big occasions. In addition to Poulin and Desbiens, whose exploits have been widely documented, in recent months we have seen the explosion of players like Sarah Nurse and, more recently, Laura Stacey. This one was probably the most dominant Canadian player on Wednesday, multiplying the beautiful pieces of play and imposing herself physically on an often confused American defense. She was, in fact, directly responsible for three goals for her side.
Her coach said the 28-year-old skater seems to have fully developed her status as a power forward, which allows her skills to shine through. “We saw her make plays worthy of a top offensive player,” said Troy Ryan. It’s cool to see her go, to see her embrace her identity. And it’s a pleasure to coach her. »
That too is a source of inspiration, for those around her as well as for those who, from the stands, watch her blossom.
We knew this team was on the right track. Here she is, once again, rewarded. We can bet that she is not ready to stop there.