USA-Canada ‘Rivalry Rematch’ highlights historic underinvestment, and future potential, of women’s hockey

In a historic first, the U.S. and Canadian women’s hockey teams will play a post-Olympics “rematch” on Saturday, March 12 at 4 p.m. ET.

The rivalry game, which is being organized by the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association (PWHPA) and hosted by the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, will be played at PPG Paints Arena.

Last month, Canada defeated the U.S., 3-2, at the 2022 Winter Olympics to win a fifth overall gold medal in women’s hockey. In Pittsburgh, both teams will be led by guest coaches. The PWHPA says it is still determining whether players with remaining NCAA eligibility will be able to participate (full rosters are below).

But the question of why the PWHPA and Pittsburgh Penguins are organizing and funding the event – and not USA Hockey or Hockey Canada – has an answer that spans decades, and multiple sports. And it also contains a hint of what is to come in women’s professional hockey, including a potential team in Seattle.

While the U.S. and Canada have traditionally played a series of rivalry games in the lead-up to each Olympics, the game on March 12 will mark the first time the two teams face off in the post-Olympics spotlight.

“There’s always been a lot of talk about doing something like this, a sort of post-Olympics tour and making sure that this visibility doesn’t just end after the Olympic gold medal game,” said PWHPA Operations consultant Jayna Hefford, who won four gold medals while playing for Team Canada. “But it’s never been done before and nobody’s been willing to take it on.”

“I think it’s a huge miss that we aren’t doing some sort of tour post-Olympics,” U.S. forward and PWHPA board member Hilary Knight said last week, prior to the announcement of the one-off game on March 12. “It’s only