October 15, 2009
By Cameron Eickmeyer
USAHockey.com
When the U.S. Women’s National Team faces Canada Friday night in Spokane, Wash., in the third game of the Qwest Tour, it will mark the first of three tour meetings between the rivals and the fourth of potentially ten pre-Olympic matches.
U.S. goaltender Jessie Vetter said the rivalry has no danger of growing stale or muted given so many games before the big show in February.
“I enjoy playing the Canadians as much as possible,” she said. “Once you get to a big stage at Four Nations or the Olympics in February it’s still going to have that same intensity no matter how many times you play them.”
Far from growing tired of playing the same opponent on a regular basis, U.S. players such as Jocelyne Lamoureux relish the opportunity to face the international rival.
“It’s exciting to get to play that team so often,” she said. “Some people think that it takes away from big games, but to be honest it makes it more exciting.”
As with any meeting between the two women’s hockey powerhouses, fans can expect an intense battle that likely will be close on the scoreboard. The U.S. had a recent winning streak against Canada snapped on Oct. 5 in Victory, B.C., in a 3-1 defeat.
“It will be nice to get another shot at them,” Lamoureux said.
The key for the U.S. on Friday night will be to keep its focus on playing a strong game and not necessarily winning the game at all costs, Vetter said.
“The big thing is to learn from every game,” Vetter said. “You just have to improve every time you play them and not worry about the win or loss category.”
The U.S. has yet to lose on the Qwest Tour though, and is sure to try to prevent the Canadians from dishing out the first defeat.
“It will be a competitive match every time we play each other,” Vetter said.
The teams will next face each other in Finland at the Women’s Four Nations Cup in early November and then will have four consecutive games in December and early January. |