Good 'Knight' for Team USA

From the start of the U.S. women's national hockey team's arrival in Seattle on Nov. 8 for a training camp in preparation for the 2022 Rivalry Series, girls hockey players from throughout the Pacific Northwest showed up at Kraken Community Iceplex too. The young athletes were watching practices and scrimmages, standing by the Zamboni doors to see elite female players up close and maybe ask for an autograph or selfie.
Hundreds of those girls and their families attended Sunday's third game of the Rivalry Series between Team USA and Team Canada before 14,551 fans at Climate Pledge Arena. Team USA won the showdown, 4-2, while setting an attendance record for an American national women's hockey game played in the U.S. The matchup was also watched live on NHL Network with Kraken play-by-play man John Forslund and color analyst Alison Lukan on the call.
Judging by decibel levels from player introductions to the final horn, all of those on hand appreciated the opportunity to watch the two best national squads in the world. Chants of "USA! USA!" resounded during the final moments of the third period while noise after the opening goal 40 seconds into the game by American defender Savannah Harmon was undeniably Kraken quality.

"For us growing up it was really hard [to see top-level women's hockey]," said Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Team USA captain, during a women's hockey panel Saturday morning at the Iceplex. "I think the first time I saw the national team play was at the United Center when I was 10 years old. They came from Chicago. The next time I saw them was a game I played in."
Coyne-Schofield assisted on Team USA's second goal of the game, scored by former University of Wisconsin star Abby Roque, to put the Americans up 2-1 just 75 seconds into the second period after teammate Savannah Harmon opened up the game's scoring. Team USA won games in Canada earlier this week, a 2-0 win Thursday and 4-3 shootout victory Tuesday.
Later in the middle period, USA star Hilary Knight scored her team's third goal to build a 3-1 lead against the Canadians. During the decisive third period, Knight struck again with a power play goal to give the Americans some breathing room against an always-tough Canadian squad.
Before the game, Knight was presented a golden stick to mark her achievement for scoring the most points all-time by any player to compete in the International Ice Hockey World Championships, breaking Canadian great Hayley Wickenheiser's record. She had already surpassed her childhood idol, former Kraken pro scout and now Vancouver Canucks assistant general manager, Cammie Granato in IIHF Worlds play. During the third period with the U.S. ahead, 4-2, a special congrats video from Granato directed to friend Knight (she called her 'Hill') played on the giant twin video boards.
The golden stick award ceremony drew loud cheers and the customary stick taps from players on both the USA and Canada teams all lined up on their respective blue lines. Knight's parents and brother were on hand to snap a photo and then the entire American squad joined for the same. During the Saturday panel, Knight talked about the quality of play fans got to see Sunday, then added emphasis after her big night.
"I think you're seeing a similar game style to the NHL," said Knight. "We really emphasize speed and skill and that's what you guys are gonna see [Sunday] at 4 p.m. It is a high-level skills game at an extremely fast pace ... I knew going into tonight it was going to be special here in Seattle with the record crowd."

True to the rivalry between these two elite teams, the Canadians responded after Knight's second-period goal with a score of their own by star defender Sarah Nurse to cut the lead to 3-2. This is the third installment of the Rivalry Series. The national squads have each won one previous series. The Americans stand in good shape with a 3-0 lead in the series, with the next games slated for Henderson, NV, and Los Angeles in mid-December.
"Yeah, there's no better game for us than playing Canada," said Amanda Kessel, a 10-year veteran in international play, during the Saturday panel attended by more than 80 girls youth players and their families. "I truly believe it's the greatest rivalry in sports like when you have two best teams that get a play that often against each other. It continues to get better. Every single game is why we train day in and day out and are able to keep that high level of play."
Both goaltenders, USA's Nicole Hensley and Canada's Ann-Renee Desbiens made big saves to keep the game close, especially in early third-period work for Hensley to help preserve a 3-2 lead. Desbiens was stellar in the opening period, making several point-blank saves.
"We spent a lot of time with girls in clinics these past weeks," said Hensley in a post-game media scrum. "We're excited to win for this record crowd and be role models for all of the girls and boys. Seeing all the kids at practice - I've never seen so many at our practices. I can't wait to see hockey players coming out of this area."

Captain Coyne-Schofield wanted to show appreciation on behalf of her teammates, who all want to help grow the female part of hockey no matter the skill level. True to how it started in early November, players on both teams made their way to Climate Pledge Arena's main concourse after the game ended.
"It is important to acknowledge the Seattle Kraken for inviting us here," said Coyne-Schofield. "And thanks to everyone who bought tickets and were excited to come out and see us play. It's moments like this that really transcend the game and take it to higher levels."