Team Canada set for World Women’s Championship
On Sunday, Hockey Canada announced the final cuts for the Canadian National Women’s Team to play in this year’s World Women’s Championship. The roster includes 23 players in total, 13 of whom played in the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
The 2012 IIHF World Women’s Championship takes place April 7-14 in Burlington, Vermont. The announcement comes as the team’s selection camp wrapped up with a win over Team USA on March 31 in Ottawa.
Canada has fallen short of a gold medal, and settled for silver, in the previous three years of this tournament. Although many feel that there is no competition in women’s hockey, this cannot be said for Canada and the U.S.
If there is a championship game in women’s hockey, Team Canada and Team USA are probably playing in it. These teams do not like each other, and with good reason.
Canada has claimed the last three Olympic Gold Medals. Some would say they have the upper hand in this rivalry. But the U.S. women’s team has a lot to be proud of. Taking home gold in the last three World Women’s Championships, this competition has been theirs for years.
What does this mean? This year, Canada has something to prove. Believe it or not, they are the underdogs. Canadians are not used to hearing this when it comes to hockey, but it’s true.
The World Women’s Championship has belonged to the U.S. in recent years. Canada comes into this tournament chasing them, not the other way around. If there is one thing Canadian hockey players are known for, it’s thriving under pressure. That is what this team needs to do.
Pressure is nothing new to the Canadian National Women’s Team. Every time they play on an international stage, their sport is called into question. They have also come into tournaments as underdogs before. Does anyone remember Salt Lake City?
Regardless of the favourites, or the underdogs, one thing is for sure; we can look forward to some great hockey between these two rival teams.
