Canada bringing veteran roster to final Rivalry Series games of season

Hockey Canada will bring a veteran roster to the final three Rivalry Series games against the United States next month.

The games on Feb. 7 in Saskatoon, Feb. 9 in Regina and Feb. 11 in St. Paul, Minn., will serve as the last senior national team tune-up before the world championship in April.

The Canadian roster includes PWHL Toronto forward Natalie Spooner, who will make her first appearance in red and white this season.

Spooner last played for Canada at last year's world championship as she worked her way back after giving birth to her son, Rory, in December 2022. She was invited to Hockey Canada's fall camp in September, but was listed as unable to participate.

Spooner has five goals in eight games for Toronto this season, just one goal behind Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin and Minnesota's Grace Zumwinkle for the PWHL lead. Spooner scored twice in a 2-0 win over New York last Friday, giving Toronto its first win at home this season.

Canada will also get New York captain Micah Zandee-Hart back on its blue line. She's set to play her first games with Team Canada this season after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

"Our roster features a more veteran lineup, however with each series, we have looked at the depth of our women's program and incorporated athletes which allowed us to test new line combinations," Canadian GM Gina Kingsbury said.

"Ultimately, the process and these games are the building blocks we need for us to have success at the upcoming Women's World Championship in April."

Toronto reserve forward Victoria Bach is also set to make her first national team appearance this season. Bach hasn't played with Toronto yet in the regular season as she's been finishing teacher's college, but she's expected