Canada and USA are the deepest women’s hockey nations in the world. Both nations could certainly field multiple teams at the IIHF World Championships or Olympic Games that would contend for medals.
Because of that depth, however, both nations leave behind talented players each year. This season, Team Canada added six new members to their World Championship roster, and USA continues to evolve their roster as well.
Here’s a look at Canada and USA’s First and Second Team All-World Snubs.
Canada’s First Team All-World Snubs
Forwards: Jessie Eldridge, Julia Gosling, Jocelyn Amos
Defenders: Nicole Gosling, Jaime Bourbonnais
Goalie: Corinne Schroeder
Canada’s roster is deep and features many of the best players the nation has to offer. There’s a gap in Canada’s reinforcements where the next way of significant reinforcements as their might not be any players in this year’s group of graduating NCAA players who becomes a Canadian national team member. The next wave will come as players like Jocelyn Amos, Emmalee Pais, and Caitlin Kraemer make their way to the national team. Chloe Primerano and Eve Gascon jumped the line, but were worthy of that advancement.
The biggest current snub for Team Canada is Corinne Schroeder. She’s time and again proved herself superior to goaltenders being selected by Canada’s brass. There’s a point where comfort and experience are key, but above all, meritocracy should be the deciding factor. Nicole Gosling was another intriguing omission. She was one of Canada’s steadier two-way defenders on the 2024 gold medal winning roster. It’s unlikely this is the last we’ll see of Gosling on Canada’s roster. Her cousin, Julia Gosling was also left off Team Canada. She’s struggled to find her offense buried on Toronto’s stacked PWHL forward group. Julia Gosling’s ability to help shift momentum last year was crucial for Canada, and could be an element they miss this year.
USA’s First Team All-World Snubs
Forwards: Casey O’Brien, Abby Boreen, Gabbie Hughes
Defenders: Emma Peschel, Rory Guilday
Goalie: Annelies Bergmann
It’s hard to imagine a world where Casey O’Brien, the top scoring player in the NCAA, is not on Team USA. She has 161 points in her last 82 NCAA games. There is no player in the world with more, and that includes the NCAA players who have been selected to represent USA ahead of her. She’s an elite playmaker, is hard on pucks, and makes those around her better. There were USA players given a spot this year whose play did not warrant a position. If USA comes up short on goal, this choice should be one that received valid criticism. Abby Boreen has had a stellar PWHL season, but was never on USA’s radar, and Gabbie Hughes has picked up her play considerably.
Defender Emma Peschel should be the next in for USA, but the nation has an abundance of defensive depth who were left off their roster. Peshcel is big and skilled and her time with USA is coming. Rory Guilday has long been a member of USA’s blueline. USA brought back Lee Stecklein and selected Anna Wilgren to shore up the defensive defender roles. The continued decision to misuse Laila Edward as a blueliner is hurting her as a player, and the programs ability to use their best assets where they fit. John Wroblewski’s unwillingness or inability to see the issue using Edwards on a blueline is troubling.
It’s hard to fault USA’s crease which is strong, but if there’s a next in situation, Annelies Bergmann is close to ready.
Canada’s Second Team All-World Snubs
Forwards: Michela Cava, Anne Cherkowski, Issy Wunder
Defenders: Ashton Bell, Kati Tabin
Goalie: Hannah Murphy
Canada’s depth has a drop after their first batch. Perhaps the players who could be hear are even younger or less ingrained in Hockey Canada’s system. Canada should begin looking at Caitlin Kraemer, Claire Murdoch, Issy Wunder, Sarah Paul and Emmalee Pais. They’ll need to create a succession plan at some point.
USA’s Second Team All-World Snubs
Forwards: Abby Roque, Elyssa Biederman, Ella Huber
Defenders: Kali Flanagan, Sydney Morrow
Goalie: Maddie Rooney
The defensive depth here are the biggest names that should have been considered. Kali Flanagan is the most undervalued defender in USA’s system. Her play on both sides of the puck deserves recognition, and could easy be utilized for USA against top match ups. Sydney Morrow was an alternate last year at Worlds, and it was a little surprising to see how little attention USA Hockey gave her this year. Up front, Elyssa Biederman can only be ignored for so long. There aren’t many players out there as skilled as she is. Her size is a factor, but she makes up for it in so many ways.
