The U.S. and Canada will face-off once again tomorrow in the gold-medal game at the 2015 IIHF Women’s World Championship in Malmo, Sweden, adding another chapter to their storied rivalry. Canada has taken home the top prize in the last two meetings between the countries – the 2014 Four Nations Cup and 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Both deciding games were thrillers and tomorrow promises more of the same excitement.

The IIHF Women’s World Championships did not run a top-level tournament last year due to it being an Olympic year, but the U.S. is the defending champion from 2013.

The U.S. and Canada have appeared in every final of the World Championships over the tournament’s 15-year existence, and Team USA has won gold in five of these events, including four of the last five and five of the last seven (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013).

In the opening game of pool play last week in Malmo, Sweden, the U.S. beat Canada 4-2. It wasn’t the perfect redemption for recent losses, but it was a start. It’s been the only blemish on Canada’s record in the World Championships.

And after the U.S. beat Russia 13-1 in Friday’s semifinals, it will meet Canada again for the gold medal at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday. Team USA enters the championship game with a 30-6 goal margin in its four games.

“Every time we play Canada it is intense and fun to compete,” forward Brianna Decker said. “It was great to start off the tournament with a win against them. It was important to get that first win because it gets the ball rolling early for us. We know what to expect when we play them, and I always look forward to the matchup.”

There are 14 Olympians on the U.S. roster, including goaltender Jessie Vetter. The last three high-profile games between the Canadians and Americans have finished 3-2, with the U.S. winning the 2013 worlds and Canada capturing the Olympic gold as well as the 2014 Four Nations Cup.

The experience of so many players on the U.S. roster has been a key reason why the team has had so much recent success in these international tournaments.

“Whenever you have an opportunity to play on that big of a stage, you gain experience that will help you become a better leader and help prepare rookies as they move forward in their careers,” said Vetter.

Added Decker, “The Olympic experience cannot be compared to any other women's hockey experience. You experience high-pressure situations that you can learn from to share with younger girls who come up in the program. Meghan Duggan, Julie Chu and Kacey Bellamy were leaders in Sochi that have helped me become a leader on this team.”

There are also new faces providing plenty of energy. Seven members of the roster are 21 years old or younger, while Vetter is the team’s oldest player at 29 years old. Only seven of the team’s 23 players were born before 1990.

“The rookies are awesome, I finally have people I can play euchre with!” Vetter joked. “They bring a lot of energy and are some incredible hockey players. [I’m] excited to see how they grow and get better throughout their careers.”

They’re bringing energy on the ice as well. For most of the nine non-Olympians, their U.S. international careers, outside of junior hockey, began only last year.

“The new faces and youth have been great,” Decker said. “They work extremely hard and always want to get better. They may be rookies, but they play like veterans. They bring a lot of energy and aren't afraid to joke around off the ice.”

Despite the new faces, the U.S. core remains, and that core is what has helped sustained long-term success. Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, Anne Schleper, Kacey Bellamy, Decker and Vetter, as well as Monique Lamoureux and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, are household names in women’s hockey.

Among others, they also help make up Team USA’s impressive core. With so many years playing together, it’s become a well-bonded group.

“Having an opportunity to play with the same players over the years gives you an opportunity to build chemistry that benefits you on the ice,” Vetter said. “My teammates have become some of my best friends, and we look forward to every opportunity we have to play together and represent our country.”

Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.