NOT JUST ANOTHER CANADA-U.S. CONTEST
Canadian, U.S. merger appears to be imminent as top players move here
Canadian forward Sarah Nurse races U.S. defender Megan Bozek for a loose puck in Wednesday night’s Four Nations Cup game, the rivals’ first meeting since the Americans won Olympic gold in a shootout. Tied 1-1 late in the third, Sydney Brodt’s goal gave the U.S. a 2-1 win in Saskatoon.
Prominent members of the U.S. women’s hockey team moving to Canada to play strengthens speculation that a merger of the top two women’s leagues into one is nigh.
Hilary Knight, Brianna Decker and Kacey Bellamy say their decisions to play in the Canadian Women’s Hockey League this season were personal, not collective.
But they’re also not adverse to their relocations strengthening the winds of change blowing through women’s hockey. Both interim CWHL commissioner Jayna Hefford and NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan indicated this year a merger is desirable.
Knight now plays for the Les Canadiennes de Montreal. Decker, Bellamy and goaltender Alex Rigsby joined the Calgary Inferno this season. All four were members of the team that beat Canada in a shootout for Olympic gold in February. When defender Megan Bozek was released from the U.S. Olympic squad midway through last winter, she joined the Markham Thunder and remained with the team this season. The five women previously played in the NWHL when it began in 2015.
“It’s all of our goals to form this one league because we have so many talented players in both leagues,” Bellamy said before the Americans’ 2-1win over Canada at the Four Nations Cup.
“Honestly, I just think for us going to Calgary, Hilary went to Montreal and Megan went to Markham, it’s the situations we wanted to be in.”
So high-profile players from Canada and the U.S., who battled each other tooth and nail for Olympic gold in Pyeongchang, South Korea a few months ago, are adjusting to each other as teammates.
Knight in Montreal gives Les Canadiennes arguably two of the best players in the world with Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin also on the roster.
“You have the chance to play against each other at the highest international level and now we have the chance to play a whole season together,” Poulin said. “We can make each other better. We can push each other to the next level.
“Obviously there’s mutual respect there in how much we want to grow women’s hockey and that’s how it all starts, playing all together in the same league.”
Canadian forwards Rebecca Johnston and Brianne Jenner now have Decker, Bellamy and Rigsby in the Inferno dressing room with them.
“I’ve played against those players for a long time so it’s kind of nice to be on the other side and get to know them as people,” Jenner said. “When you’re on the ice against them, you forget they’re people.
“I think we all want the best players playing in one league. How that looks is still to be seen. When you’re competitive, you want to play with and against the best.”
The six-team CWHL is in its 12th season. The NWHL has five U.S.-based teams.
The pay in both leagues remains nominal compared to men’s pro leagues, so choosing club colours can come down to personal preference.