Canada vs. USA women’s hockey three-game rivalry series starts tonight

The fiercest rivalry in North American pro sports resumes this week as the Canadian and American women’s hockey teams face off for a three game series. Here’s how and where to watch.

Canada vs. USA hockey, in any capacity, is one of the best rivalries in all of sports. We often see these two match up at the world junior tournament, sporadically at World Cups and most meaningfully, at the Olympics. The women from these two countries are on another level.

The last time the American and Canadian women faced each other was at the 2018 Winter Olympics and it was one of the greatest Olympic hockey games of all time (especially if you’re an American). It featured everything we hope for in a gold medal game, aside from the ridiculously stupid international shoot out ending (Yes, I am Canadian).

Those two teams are at a level they’ve never been before, both in talent and in popularity and this week they are playing a three-game cross-border series to showcase just how far the sport has come (or for revenge, if you’re in red and white). If you’re on the fence about watching this, consider these two things: Two of the American women are coming off of NHL skills competition domination and there will likely be more violence in this game than there will be in Game of Thrones‘ final season.

https://twitter.com/HC_Women/status/1092856926726086656

Look. We’re not condoning violence or fighting but hockey is extremely fun to watch when it’s played on the edge. These two teams play on the edge of Mount Everest. In any given game between the two, there’s no shortage of “extra-curricular activity” that toes the line between rough and passionate. It’s the perfect amount.

Since the Olympics, the athletes have returned to one of two hockey leagues, the NWHL (National Women’s Hockey League) or the CWHL (Canadian Women’s Hockey League). The hope is that one day these two leagues will be amalgamated into one and the world’s best female hockey talent can all compete under one banner. This would do wonder’s for the ever-growing women’s game.

The reason the rivalry is so fierce is likely because these are the only two countries that compete at the highest level. The rest of the world hasn’t caught up yet and it’s apparent when either of these two play anyone else. Two teams at the top of their respective games, living in neighboring countries, with a seemingly endless amount of fuel for their fires. When these two play, you can sense the overlying theme – it’s a perfect blend of respect and hatred.

Perhaps “hatred” is too strong of a word. Off the ice, most of these women are friends. Many of them play on the same teams. If asked, they would probably give you the typical respectful answers, such as “It’s tough competition. Those girls are very good. We go to battle with them every time. Blah blah blah.”

But watching a single game between these two countries will make you think you’re watching a 1980’s NHL rivalry game. Seriously, watch one game and tell me they don’t hate each other. There isn’t supposed to be checking in international women’s play but the promo that ran for this series was about 50 seconds of bone-crushing hits followed by 10 seconds of goals and celebrations (unfortunately, TSN has yet to release this promo online). Scrums, face washes, hits, fights, bad blood; this is playoff-level intensity in the middle of February and getting to watch three games of it is a real treat for us.

The games will air on TSN in Canada and NHL Network in the United States. Check your local listings for the exact times and channels. Don’t miss this series. These games will be a nice primer for playoff hockey in a few months. Oh, and if you are rooting for the American team, I wish you nothing but the worst until the series is over (kidding – kind of).

Go Canada Go!