In women’s hockey there is nothing quite like Canada vs USA on the international stage, and earlier this month a trio of Premier Hockey Federation players got to experience this firsthand.
Canada’s Loren Gabel and Élizabeth Giguère, along with USA’s Becca Gilmore, are all members of the PHF’s Boston Pride, but for three games in November they represented their countries at the highest level of competition in the Rivalry Series.
“Amazing. It’s been a big goal of mine to get on the senior national team and what a dream come true,” Gilmore said following the Nov. 20 contest in Seattle. “Ever since I was a little girl I looked up to some players on this team. Every time you get the opportunity it’s just an incredible honor to wear the red, white, and blue and go out there to compete to the best of your ability.”
The United States won all three games including the first two played in British Columbia by one-goal margins, before capping the opening leg of the series with a 4-2 triumph at Climate Pledge Arena in front of 14,551 which is the largest crowd ever to watch a U.S. National Women’s Team game in the country.
“The last game in front of that many people on U.S. soil and to get the sweep is just an incredible way to go out and something I’ll definitely remember forever.”
Gilmore hails from Wayland, MA and previously suited up for Team USA at three-straight U18 World Championship events winning two golds and a silver. The series was her senior debut and also marked the first time Giguère skated as a member of Canada’s National Women’s Team after winning U18 silver of her own.
“I always wanted to be here and the fact that I’m here now is amazing,” said Giguère. “That’s not the three games we would have wanted but I had a lot of fun with the girls, and just to play with such amazing players and against such good players was good.”
The Quebec native was able to chip in offensively in her debut, assisting on a goal by Marie-Philip Poulin that counts as a personal highlight.
“She’s my idol, so the fact that I got to be with her and experience practices with her and just hang out with her for the last 10 days was just amazing for me. I learned a lot from her and from the older crew on that team. It was a great moment.”
Gabel also assisted on the same Poulin goal in her return to the national team program she was a part of in 2019 when Canada earned bronze at the World Championship.
“It was a good experience,” said Gabel. “Any chance you get to put that maple leaf over your head and wear that jersey is a huge honor and it’s amazing to be part of something that’s so much bigger than yourself. Obviously these Rivalry Series games are big games and I’m happy to be a part of them.”
The group has collectively contributed 10 points in their first four PHF games, with Gabel tied for the team lead with five including three goals.
“It’s been great so far,” the Kitchener, Ontario native said of her transition to the PHF. “I think changing from league to league I just wanted to do something that would help benefit myself both on and off the ice, and I made this choice to go to the Boston Pride and it’s been great so far and I’m excited to see what the rest of the season holds.”
Players weren’t the only PHF representatives at the Rivalry Series, as Commissioner Reagan Carey and Scout and Player Relations Liaison Kacey Bellamy were on hand for the third game in Seattle.
“The Rivalry Series is an incredible resource,” Bellamy said. “We have some PHF players so it’s an absolute honor to be able to watch them showcase their talents among some of the best women’s hockey players in the world. I think the PHF player pool has come such a long way in the past eight years, and the players here at the Rivalry Series is a perfect example of how women’s hockey is growing and how players are getting better.”
Bellamy knows exactly what putting on a national team sweater means. She competed in the Rivalry Series during her decorated career as a Team USA defender, as well as in nine different World Championships and three Olympic Winter Games.
“For players representing their country, it’s just an absolute honor and I think it’s the highest honor that I know I had playing in my career. You aren’t just representing Team USA, you’re representing everywhere you came from. It’s bigger than just hockey and the sport itself. It’s all the support you have around you and the people that helped you get to where you are today.”
With Carey’s leadership, the PHF is committed to being part of that essential support system for players by providing them with a professional environment to develop and compete.
“It’s great to be here at the Rivalry Series watching the best in North America showcase the talent in the women’s game, and to see a crowded arena is special,” Carey said in Seattle. “The PHF is here to help develop and train to be a leader within that movement to make sure these elite athletes get what they need to continue to raise the bar for women’s professional hockey.”
Following the Rivalry Series, the PHF has 38 players who have experience competing for their senior national team programs which represent over 25% of all active rosters.
“Building the best environment to help our players be competitive and develop to pursue their national team careers and dreams is important to us. We’re aiming to be the best we can to provide that.”
The Rivalry Series continues December 15 and 19 with games in Henderson, NV, and Los Angeles, CA.
Cover photos courtesy of Chris Mast / USA Hockey
Watch #RivalrySeries Videos:
Becca Gilmore
Élizabeth Giguère
Loren Gabel
Reagan Carey & Kacey Bellamy
