Canada, U.S. to meet again in PWHPA showdown

PITTSBURGH - Less than a month after clashing for Olympic women's hockey gold in Beijing, players on the Canadian and U.S. teams will meet again in a Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) game in Pittsburgh.

The PWHPA and the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins will co-host a "Rivalry Rematch" on March 12 at PPG Paints Arena.

Captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored twice in a 3-2 win over the U.S. in the Olympic final, tournament MVP Brianne Jenner, top scorer Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner are among players on Canada's roster for the game.

Captain Kendall Coyne Schofield, Hilary Knight, Amanda Kessel and goaltender Alex Cavallini headline the U.S. roster.

The Olympic gold-medal game Feb. 17 averaged 3.54 million viewers on NBC and 1.3 million on CBC.

"There is no doubt these women athletes have influenced and advanced the sport of hockey for girls, not only in Pittsburgh, but across North America," Penguins president and chief executive officer Dave Morehouse said Tuesday in a statement.

The majority of players on the Canadian and American teams are affiliated with the PWHPA, which was established following the collapse of the Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) in 2019.

The PWHPA's goal is a sustainable, professional women's league that pays a living wage and offers the competitive supports the male pros get.

Showcase games and tournaments that were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic have resumed.

“This rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports and we’re thrilled that the Pittsburgh Penguins have provided the opportunity for fans to watch these women battle it out, once again,” said PWHPA leader Jayna Hefford.

“It’s no secret that the past few years have been difficult for women’s hockey, but