Final Rivalry Series games against U.S. a crucial test for Canadians before Olympics

For the players fighting to make the Canadian women’s Olympic hockey team, two Rivalry Series games against the United States this week could be an opportunity to cement their spots on the team.

The games on Wednesday and Saturday in Edmonton (both airing at 9 p.m. ET on TSN) will be the final tune-up for the national team ahead of Canada’s first Olympic game in February.

It’s also the last opportunity for head coach Troy Ryan and his staff to tweak and experiment before the real thing.

“These last two games are crucial in our preparations with the Milano Cortina Games less than 70 days away,” general manager Gina Kingsbury said when the roster was named last week. “We are confident we have built a group that will give us a chance to be successful as we finish off the series in front of our fans and a hometown crowd.”

Canada was outplayed, and outscored by a combined 10-2, by the United States in the first two games.

But the roster will look a bit different in Edmonton.

The Canadian team started rookies Kayle Osborne (New York Sirens) and Ève Gascon (University of Minnesota Duluth) in net during the two November games.

Starting goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens (Montreal Victoire) was left off that roster for rest, but she’ll be back on Team Canada this week. Presumably, Desbiens and long-time backup Emerance Maschmeyer, who earned a shutout for the Vancouver Goldeneyes over the weekend, will start these final two games.

Several other veterans will also return to Team Canada, including Ottawa Charge teammates Brianne Jenner, Jocelyne Larocque and Emily Clark, the latter of whom was still recovering from an injury during the November national team window. Montreal Victoire rookie defender Nicole Gosling will also get a shot.