November Rivalry Series Preview
The best rivalry in sports kicks off this week in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Rivalry Series kicks off this week as Team USA hosts Team Canada for a pair of games. First, the teams square off in Cleveland, Ohio, on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. ET. They'll then take their talents to Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 6 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on NHL Network in the United States and TSN in Canada.
Rivalry Series Game Schedule
- Thursday, November 6 @ 7 pm ET, Rocket Arena (Cleveland, OH)
- Saturday, November 8 @ 6 pm ET, KeyBank Center (Buffalo, NY)
- Wednesday, December 10 @ 9 pm ET, Rogers Place (Edmonton, AB)
- Saturday, December 13 @ 9 pm ET, Rogers Place (Edmonton, AB)
(Note: a separate roster is expected to be named for the December games.)
The Rosters
Team USA
Forwards: Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Jesse Compher, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Britta Curl-Salemme, Joy Dunne, Lacey Eden, Taylor Heise, Gabbie Hughes, Tessa Janecke, Hilary Knight, Abbey Murphy, Casey O'Brien, Kelly Pannek, Hayley Scammura, Kirsten Simms, Grace Zumwinkle
Defense: Cayla Barnes, Laila Edwards, Rory Guilday, Savannah Harmon, Caroline Harvey, Megan Keller, Emma Peschel, Lee Stecklein, Anna Wilgren, Haley Winn
Goalies: Aerin Frankel, Ava McNaughton, Gwyneth Philips
Lydia Murray
Team Canada
Forwards: Laura Stacey, Sarah Fillier, Caitlin Kraemer, Sarah Nurse, Natalie Spooner, Emma Maltais, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hannah Miller, Blayre Turnbull, Kristin O'Neill, Julia Gosling, Danielle Serdachny, Jennifer Gardiner, Daryl Watts
Defenders: Sophie Jaques, Chloe Primerano, Kati Tabin, Renata Fast, Ella Shelton, Erin Ambrose, Micah Zandee-Hart, Claire Thompson
Goalies: Ève Gascon, Emerance Maschmeyer, Kayle Osborne
Melissa Burgess
What Happened Last Year?
Team Canada won the Rivalry Series in 2024-25 after coming up victorious in three of the five games.
The United States won the first game 7-2 in San Jose, California, but dropped the other two American games by scores of 5-4 (shootout) and 4-1 in Salt Lake City, Utah and Boise, Idaho, respectively. The teams split the games on Canadian soil, with the US winning 2-1 in a shootout in Halifax, Nova Scotia, then falling 3-1 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
What to Expect This Year
The Rivalry Series is always entertaining, and this year's games will be no different. There's more at stake this year, with the 2026 Winter Olympics right around the corner. Realistically, no player is 100% guaranteed a spot in Milan - but sensibly, some players are more of a lock than others.
For bubble players who have attended an Olympic camp and are hopeful to make the Milan roster, these games offer an opportunity to show their respective brass what they've got. That also perhaps can explain why a few players, at least for Canada, are not on the roster – leaving space for younger, up-and-coming players to earn more minutes and showcase their skills.
Regardless, the Rivalry Series offers four more chances to tune up against arguably their top opponent before the big games next year.
That said, the November games are also just days before national team players report to PWHL training camps, and just two weeks (or a little less!) before the regular season begins. With all of that said, although the Rivalry Series offers a lot of positives, there's also always that risk of injury - and right before the season begins, too.
Maya Smith
Personally, I'm thrilled to see the Rivalry Series come to my hometown of Buffalo. After losing the Beauts, the state of women's hockey in the 716 has been sort of in a state of limbo. The PWHL game here last season had the lowest attendance of the nine Takeover Tour games, and there appears to be plenty of good seats left for Saturday's game. (For a limited time, you can use promo code USAKBC for buy one, get one tickets!)
P.S. Hey USA Hockey, if you're taking suggestions for future Rivalry Series games, I think Columbus, Ohio, would be a great spot. Anyone else agree?
P.P.S. I'd really like to see these games get on ESPN or another national TV provider in the United States, especially ahead of the 2026 Olympics. It'd be a great way to boost engagement around the sport and grab folks' attention ahead of the PWHL season and the Olympics.
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