Hilary Knight, Team USA relish another opportunity to battle Team Canada for women hockey supremacy | Canada News Media
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Hilary Knight, Team USA relish another opportunity to battle Team Canada for women hockey supremacy

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In the 21 times the women’s world hockey championship has been contested starting in 1990, Canada and the United States have met in the title game 20 times, the Canadians winning 12, the Americans nine.

It’s considered one of the best rivalries in sport for a reason. At the highest level of women’s hockey these two North American juggernauts deliver time and time again. There is a deep respect for each other rooted in decades of iconic moments. And there is a distinctive fierceness, intensity and unparalleled passion when these two hit the ice.

Here we go again.

This year’s championship is underway in Brampton, Ont., and pundits and fans alike are once again predicting the obvious end game — Canada vs. USA for women’s hockey supremacy.

The first meeting comes Monday in a round-robin game that will decide placing Group A. Every time the Americans take to the ice against their northern neighbours they want to make a statement.

“I like beating everyone. I like winning. It’s an addiction,” U.S. captain Hilary Knight told CBC Sports.

Canada vs. USA: A Hockey rivalry like none other

 

Canada has had the USA’s number lately in women’s hockey, and the two countries are gearing up for another showdown at the women’s hockey world championships.

She wouldn’t go too much further than that when talking about the rivalry. When pressed about a potential looming gold-medal game between the two foes, Knight smirked and offered a short response.

“It’s going to be a great game,”  she said.

History backs up her answer and Knight would know. She’s been a part of this rivalry dating back to the 2007 world championship, when she was the youngest player on a U.S. squad that finished second to Team Canada. She got her first taste of the revenge the following year when the U.S. defeated Canada to win gold.

This is the first time Knight will be wearing the “C” as captain for the American squad. The announcement was made just a day before the start of the tournament.

“It’s a tremendous honour. I can’t really put into words what it means outside of honour to lead such an incredible squad. Our room is so strong with incredible leaders,” she said.

In 13 appearances, the 33-year-old Knight is the career leader in points (89) and goals (53) at the women’s world championships. She’s won eight golds and four silvers to go with one Olympic gold and three silvers.

It seems every time Canada and the U.S. play for gold at the world championships or Olympics there are heart-stopping moments, including post-hitting, last-second scoring, overtimes and shootout magic.

RIght now, momentum is on the side of the Canadians.  They have won the last two world championships, are the reigning Olympic gold medallists, and most recently, reeled off four straight wins in a stunning comeback over the U.S. in the seven-game Rivalry Series.

“We’ll leave the last segment of the Rivalry Series out of this,’ U.S. head coach John Wroblewski said. “Canada got the better of us. It shows how dangerous they are.

“I hate to lose. I love to win. It’s about providing the right platform for our team to get better.”

Haley Winn, left, is making her world championship debut with Team USA. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Unlike Knight, Wroblewski is relatively new to all of this. He took over as head coach of this team a year ago after spending the past two seasons coaching the Ontario Reign, the American Hockey League affiliate of the NHL’s L.A. Kings.

Wroblewski got his first taste of the women’s hockey rivalry last September at the world championships when he was behind the bench for Canada’s 2-1 gold medal victory in yet another tight, tense affair.

“It’s an honour to be a part of it. I would watch all those games in the past on TV,” he said. “You really can’t appreciate it fully until you get to ice level. The respect the teams have for each other is tremendous and the desire to win is immense. Words can’t capture it. I love how passionate both teams play against each other.”

Wroblewski calls Canada a team without any weakness right now, but quickly reminds people anything can happen at the world championship.

 

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“When you get into those one-game showdowns, anyone can beat anyone,” he said. “It’s about captivating your team spirit on that day. Who’s going to show up and bring that extra degree to that game?”

The American coach is excited about his younger squad that features five players making their world championship debut, including 19-year-old Haley Winn. The U.S. had already won an Olympic gold medal in 1998 and she idolized players like Knight growing up.

“It’s pretty surreal,” she said of now being Knight’s teammate. “I’ve looked up to her since I started so to be beside her is amazing. I’m trying to take in every moment.”

That includes being part of the rivalry that she’s watched all her life.

“It started when I watched the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. Obviously I was fortunate to make the under-18 team so that’s when it started for me on the ice,” Winn said. “It’s definitely as big as it’s talked up to be. These two teams are the best in the world and it’s always a battle.

“We have a huge respect for them. I’m super excited to be part of it on the biggest stage.”

 

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Fernandez and Dabrowski headline Canadian lineup for Billie Jean King Cup Finals

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TORONTO – Singles star Leylah Fernandez and doubles specialist Gabriela Dabrowski will anchor Canada’s five-player lineup when the team tries to defend its Billie Jean King Cup title in mid-November.

The 26th-ranked Fernandez, the 2021 U.S. Open finalist from Laval, Que., is the lone Canadian in the top 100 of the WTA Tour’s singles rankings.

Dabrowski, from Ottawa, is ranked fourth on the doubles list. The 2023 U.S. Open women’s doubles champion won mixed doubles bronze with Felix Auger-Aliassime at the recent Paris Olympics.

Marina Stakusic of Mississauga, Ont., returns after a breakout performance last year, capped by her singles win in Canada’s 2-0 victory over Italy in the final. Vancouver’s Rebecca Marino is also back and Bianca Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion from Mississauga, Ont., returns to the squad for the first time since 2022.

“Winning the Billie Jean King Cup in 2023 was a dream come true for us, and not only that, but I feel like we made a statement to the world about the strength of this nation when it comes to tennis,” Canada captain Heidi El Tabakh said Monday in a release. “Once again, we have a very strong team this year with Bianca joining Leylah, Gaby, Rebecca and Marina, making it an extremely powerful team that is more than capable of going all the way.

“At the end of the day, our goal is to make Canada proud, and we’ll do our best to bring the same level of effort and excitement that we had in last year’s finals.”

Fernandez, who beat Jasmine Paolini to clinch Canada’s first-ever title at the competition, is ranked No. 42 in doubles.

Canada, which received an automatic berth as defending champion, will play the winner of the first-round tie between Great Britain and Germany on Nov. 17 at Malaga’s Martin Carpena Arena.

Australia, Italy and wild-card entry Czechia also received first-round byes. The tournament, which continues through Nov. 20, also includes host Spain, Slovakia, the United States, Poland, Japan and Romania.

Stakusic is up 27 spots to No. 128 in the latest world singles rankings. Marino is at No. 134 and Andreescu, the 2019 U.S. Open champion, is ranked 167th.

Canada will look to become the first team since Czechia in 2016 to successfully defend its Billie Jean King Cup title.

Malaga will also host the Nov. 19-24 Davis Cup Final 8. The Canadian men qualified over the weekend with a 2-1 victory over Great Britain in Manchester.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Penguins re-sign Crosby to two-year extension that runs through 2026-27 season

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PITTSBURGH – Sidney Crosby plans to remain a Pittsburgh Penguin for at least three more years.

The Penguins announced on Monday that they re-signed the 37-year-old from Cole Harbour, N.S., to a two-year contract extension that has an average annual value of US$8.7 million. The deal runs through the 2026-27 season.

Crosby was eligible to sign an extension on July 1 with him entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4-million deal that carries an $8.7-million salary cap hit.

At the NHL/NHLPA player media tour in Las Vegas last Monday, he said things were positive and he was optimistic about a deal getting done.

The three-time Stanley Cup champion is coming off a 42-goal, 94-point campaign that saw him finish tied for 12th in the league scoring race.

Crosby has spent all 19 of his NHL seasons in Pittsburgh, amassing 592 goals and 1,004 assists in 1,272 career games.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 16, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar wins Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal

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MONTREAL – Tadej Pogacar was so dominant on Sunday, Canada’s Michael Woods called it a race for second.

Pogacar, a three-time Tour de France champion from Slovenia, pedalled to a resounding victory at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montreal.

The UAE Team Emirates leader crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Spain’s Pello Bilbao of Bahrain — Victorious to win the demanding 209.1-kilometre race on a sunny, 28 C day in Montreal. France’s Julian Alaphilippe of Soudal Quick-Step was third.

“He’s the greatest rider of all time, he’s a formidable opponent,” said Woods, who finished 45 seconds behind the leader in eighth. “If you’re not at your very, very best, then you can forget racing with him, and today was kind of representative of that.

“He’s at such a different level that if you follow him, it can be lights out.”

Pogacar slowed down before the last turn to celebrate with the crowd, high-five fans on Avenue du Parc and cruise past the finish line with his arms in the air after more than five hours on the bike.

The 25-year-old joined Belgium’s Greg Van Avermaet as the only multi-time winners in Montreal after claiming the race in 2022. He also redeemed a seventh-place finish at the Quebec City Grand Prix on Friday.

“I was disappointed, because I had such good legs that I didn’t do better than seventh,” Pogacar said. “To bounce back after seventh to victory here, it’s just an incredible feeling.”

It’s Pogacar’s latest win in a dominant year that includes victories at the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.

Ottawa’s Woods (Israel Premier-Tech) tied a career-best in front of the home crowd in Montreal, but hoped for more after claiming a stage at the Spanish Vuelta two weeks ago.

“I wanted a better result,” the 37-year-old rider said. “My goal was a podium, but at the same time I’m happy with the performance. In bike racing, you can’t always get the result you want and I felt like I raced really well, I animated the race, I felt like I was up there.”

Pogacar completed the 17 climbs up and down Mount Royal near downtown in five hours 28 minutes 15 seconds.

He made his move with 23.3 kilometres to go, leaving the peloton in his dust as he pedalled into the lead — one he never relinquished.

Bilbao, Alaphilippe, Alex Aranburu (Movistar Team) and Bart Lemmen (Visma–Lease) chased in a group behind him, with Bilbao ultimately separating himself from the pack. But he never came close to catching Pogacar, who built a 35-second lead with one lap left to go.

“It was still a really hard race today, but the team was on point,” Pogacar said. “We did really how we planned, and the race situation was good for us. We make it hard in the last final laps, and they set me up for a (takeover) two laps to go, and it was all perfect.”

Ottawa’s Derek Gee, who placed ninth in this year’s Tour de France, finished 48th in Montreal, and called it a “hard day” in the heat.

“I think everyone knows when you see Tadej on the start line that it’s just going to be full gas,” Gee said.

Israel Premier-Tech teammate Hugo Houle of Sainte-Perpétue, Que., was 51st.

Houle said he heard Pogacar inform his teammates on the radio that he was ready to attack with two laps left in the race.

“I said then, well, clearly it’s over for me,” Houle said. “You see, cycling isn’t that complicated.”

Australia’s Michael Matthews won the Quebec City GP for a record third time on Friday, but did not finish in Montreal. The two races are the only North American events on the UCI World Tour.

Michael Leonard of Oakville, Ont., and Gil Gelders and Dries De Bondt of Belgium broke away from the peloton during the second lap. Leonard led the majority of the race before losing pace with 45 kilometres to go.

Only 89 of 169 riders from 24 teams — including the Canadian national team — completed the gruelling race that features 4,573 metres in total altitude.

Next up, the riders will head to the world championships in Zurich, Switzerland from Sept. 21 to 29.

Pogacar will try to join Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) as the only men to win three major titles in a season — known as the Triple Crown.

“Today gave me a lot of confidence, motivation,” Pogacar said. “I think we are ready for world championships.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 15, 2024.

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