Central intelligence
Canadian women’s team reaping benefits of a full-time program
GANGNEUNG — For the most part the Canadian women hockey players here have managed to keep the eye rolls to themselves.
The predictable questions keep coming — and with Thursday’s game against the U.S., now upon us, right on cue. What is it about an Olympic year that swings the puck pendulum in Canada’s favour? Why is it such a great rivalry? Why are the Americans favoured?
Given the format of the women’s Olympic tournament, it’s a near lock that the two teams will meet for gold yet again next week. And given the USA has captured the title at each of the past three world championships, the Canadians are actually underdogs here at the Pyeongchang Games.
But thanks to a centralization program that maximizes the skill and talents of the best group of women’s hockey players in the world, little of what happened the past three years matters.
The Americans as favourites narrative must also bring a smile to the Canadian players who have won their two games so far by a combined score of 9-1. Of course, they have won the past four Olympic gold medals and also ended 2017 exhibition play with a fourgame winning streak over their arch rivals.
Their Olympic formula, however, provides a proven edge.
“The Americans are a great country for hockey, but we are too,” Canadian forward Meghan Agosta said diplomatically. “And ever since August we have improved considerably. Our coaching staff has done a great job getting us up to the level that we need to be at.”
Certainly credit coach Laura Schuler with a share of that. There seems to be a complete buy in from her players and the defensive and offensive schemes she’s rolled out have been clinically efficient in wins over the Olympic Athletes from Russia and Finland.
But it’s more than coaching. Institutionally, the Canadians are better equipped every Olympic year to kick butt.
It all begins with Hockey Canada’s centralization program based at Calgary’s Winsport Markin MacPhail centre. The entire team and non-Calgary-based support staff checked in to the facility Aug. 1 and other than a short Christmas break have been together ever since.
The 28 initial invitees were eventually trimmed to 23 in late December but throughout the camp systems were integrated, evaluations were made and the marriage of what ultimately turned out to be nine rookies and 14 veterans had a chance to solidify.
“No. 1 (with) centralization is the opportunity to coach a team full team,” Schuler said. “These girls are getting all the support services they have in place to be the best they can be. Full-time training. Fulltime trainers to make sure they’re healthy. They’re staying on the ice. From a coaching perspective we’re able to sit down and do one-on-one video. There’s just so much more time to teach.”
The process actually began in late May when the players reported to a two-week “boot camp” in Fredericton, N.B. Then after shifting West to Calgary it has been all business.
From a game on Sept. 21 to a final pre-Olympic prep on Feb. 4, the team played 42 contests and had 35 practices. Not only did it provide the opportunity to nail the necessary hockey fundamentals, the team bonding element is an intangible not to be understated. By comparison, men’s coach Willie Desjardins has had one pre-season game and three practices with his full squad.
“You show up every day at the rink with other players who have the same goals and dreams as you do,” said forward Haley Irwin. “We’re pushing each other and you couldn’t ask for a better environment.
“We’re there to pick each other up when we need it and we’re there to push each other when we need it. The memories we create is something we can cherish for a lifetime.”
Getting the team together during a non-Olympic year is considerably more challenging for Hockey Canada. Players are scattered amongst club teams across Canada and NCAA programs in the U.S. The world championships are one thing, but the Olympics are the big deal.
“The players don’t have a full-time schedule when they are in college so they aren’t getting the same intensity as they do (with centralization),” Hockey Canada women’s general manager Melody Davidson said. “There’ always that comparison in the men’s game with college and major junior programs. It’s just not the same.
“This program provides an opportunity for growth and development that right now we only get every four years, so we’ve got to make the most of it when we’re together.”
The six months together targeted to what is almost always a one-game showdown also brings with it extreme pressure. And as so many games between the two nations have shown since women’s hockey made it’s Olympic debut in 1998, there is little to separate them.
“There’s a lot more attention on us when it comes to February,” Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said. “But that’s exciting. If you are a hockey player in this country and you play for Team Canada, you’re kind of used to pressure and it’s something you have to enjoy. We’re excited to have a chance to play on the world stage when everybody’s watching.”