Summerside to host 2025 women's hockey Rivalry Series game
CBC
Some of the best women's hockey players from Canada and the U.S. will be playing in Summerside, P.E.I., this coming winter.
On Tuesday, city officials announced that Hockey Canada will host the fifth game of the Rivalry Series at Credit Union Place in February 2025.
"It's a major win for us. We've been after this event for two to three years now.," said JP Desrosiers, Summerside's deputy chief administrative officer.
"To finally secure it is a fantastic opportunity not only for us in the province and the city of Summerside, but also for female hockey players right across the province."
The Feb. 8 game will see the national Canadian women's team face off against the national U.S. women's team in the fifth and final game of the series.
The other games will take place in San Jose, Calif.; Salt Lake City, Utah; Boise, Idaho; and Halifax.
"We really want to showcase this level of hockey … and we're certainly proud to be able to do so," Desrosiers said, noting that the game ties in well with Summerside's sports tourism strategy.
The Rivalry Series showcases the close competition between the two neighbouring countries, with Canada and the U.S. having faced each other in the gold medal game of six of the seven most recent Olympic games.
Canada leads the rivalry with 103 wins, compared to 78 American victories.
Several young women who play on local hockey teams were at Tuesday's announcement, and will be given complimentary tickets to the game.
"I'm really excited to see them play for the first time, like in real life," said 13-year-old Caseley Griffin, who plays for the Western Wind.
After the inaugural season of the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) this past year, Griffin said she's noticed a difference in how many people are talking about the sport.
"I'm really happy that female hockey is getting more talked about and stuff," she said. "Because a long time ago, female hockey wasn't that important, really."
Ellie Silliker, who plays defence for the Summerside Inferno, said she doesn't have a favourite player yet, but hopes to have one after watching the game in Februrary.
