ST. LOUIS, MO–The rise of women’s hockey is no secret and it was on full display Friday night inside the Enterprise Center. In a format they’ve never played, Canada beat the United States 2-1.
Three-on-three is coming to women’s hockey in the upcoming Olympic games. The players were anxious to see how they would perform in their first test.
It took the Canadians one shift to learn what it takes to be good in three-on-three as Rebecca Johnston scored 61 seconds into the first half. Renata Fast took the puck out of her own zone and quickly found Meghan Agosta in stride. Agosta found the streaking Johnston who did the rest.
The game slowed down a bit for the next handful of minutes. The women were clearly figuring out their first dip into the open ice format.
“It was definitely challenging. There was a lot of ice out there. Some of the legs were heavy,” said Kendall Coyne Schofield. “Everyone adjusted pretty well.”
Once they figured it out, the game was a spectacle for the fans. The goalies stole the show the majority of the first period. American Alex Cavallini and Canadian Ann-Renee Desbiens combined to make 17 first half saves.
Melodie Daoust grew the lead when she ripped a stick-side shot past Cavallini 2:30 into the second half. Olympic great Marie-Philip Poulin was credited with the assist that sprung her teammate free and clear.
The United States only goal came from one of the greatest payers to ever wear the red, white and blue. Hilary Knight took a pass from Annie Pankowski and finished her breakaway with a five-hole goal.
With the goalie pulled, the Americans controlled the puck and almost tied the game as the horn sounded. Schofield guided a shot to the high glove side, but Desbiens trapped it, to seal the victory.
Thursday the NHL and St. Louis Blues announced they have partnered with Bauer Hockey on a long term investment in growing female hockey in the area. The investment made in girls’ and women’s hockey will cover equipment, ice time, coaching, and special events for girls and women of all ages. It also covers year-round programming, summer skills camps, female official development programs, female coaching clinics, and a new 3 vs. 3 Skills Development League.
Coyne Schofield thinks the time is right to grow the game for the next generation of female hockey players. “There were a lot of people that didn’t love what I did and told me to go play sports for girls. More girls are playing than ever and playing with other girls. I would tell them to love it and follow their dreams whatever they are.”
Match report by adam.minnick@prohockeynews.com
Hilary Knight
Sarah Nurse, Alex Cavallini
Annie Pankowski
Hilary Knight
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