The game will be part of the Anaheim Ducks "We Play Weekend" which will take place Feb. 7-9, 2020, and includes multiple initiatives to celebrate the girls and women's game. U.S. Women's National Team member and Lady Ducks alumna Annie Pankowski, a three-time IIHF world champion and also NCAA national champion, will take part in a ceremonial puck drop at the Ducks game tonight (Oct. 5), to publicly announce the upcoming Rivalry Series game.
Former Lady Ducks forward Pankowski (Laguna Hills, CA) played for the Lady Ducks from 2005-11. She was a finalist for the 2019 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented annually to the top Division I women's college hockey player in the nation (University of Wisconsin). Pankowski won the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey Women's World Championship and was named "Player of the Game" in the Championship game (U.S. vs. Finland), scoring a goal and the game-deciding shootout tally. Pankowski was also nominated for the 2019 Hockey Humanitarian Award, presented to the student-athlete who makes significant contributions not only to their team, but also the community-at large through leadership in volunteerism.
"We are very excited to host this historic rivalry here at Honda Center," said Aaron Teats, Chief Marketing Officer of the Anaheim Ducks. "We have seen the growth of the women's game first hand through our Lady Ducks programming here in Southern California and we look forward to the continued growth and evolvement of women's hockey for the generations to come."
As part of the weekend festivities, U.S. National Team members will take part in S.C.O.R.E. (Scholastic Curriculum Of Recreation & Education) events that promote hockey, physical fitness, and academic excellence in classrooms across Southern California. Prior to the Rivalry Series game on Saturday, Feb. 8, the Ducks will host a ticketed pre-game Women in Sports panel featuring distinguished female athletes. Autographs will be available post-game from members of the U.S. Women's National Team and alumni. To conclude the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 9, kids ages 6-16 will have a chance to take part in special clinics with members of Team USA at Great Park Ice and FivePoint Arena.
Tickets will go on sale for the Rivalry Series game on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Honda Center box office or
AnaheimDucks.com/WePlay
, with options for VIP hospitality as well as Meet & Greet opportunities with Team USA.
Ducks fans and local youth hockey participants will also have a chance to get tickets before the general public by visiting
AnaheimDucks.com/WePlay
.
History of the Rivalry Series:
The Rivalry Series was introduced by USA Hockey and Hockey Canada last season and comprised three games between the women's national teams of the two countries. The U.S. captured the opening game in London, Ont., by a 1-0 count on Feb. 12, before Canada earned a 4-3 win in Toronto on Feb. 14 and a 2-0 victory on Feb. 17 in Detroit.
The U.S. and Canada have battled in the gold-medal game of every IIHF Women's World Championship and Olympic Winter Games staged, with just two exceptions (2018 world championship, 2006 Olympics).
