The stands at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario, exploded with cheers after Canada’s Jamie Lee Rattray scored the game-winner at the Women’s World Championship on Monday.
Rattray put the puck in the back of the net in the ninth round of the shootout between Canada and the USA. This brought Canada’s final preliminary round game to a 4-3 close.
However, Rattray wasn’t the only star to shine on Canada’s roster. Goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens saved six shots in the shootout. During her 65 minutes of play, Desbiens made 26 saves.
“So easy to play in front of Ann. She has so much confidence in herself, confidence in us,” forward Sarah Fillier told Sportsnet.
Fillier is responsible for a goal and an assist. Fellow forwards Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey secured another two goals for Canada.
In the game before, goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer, a local gal from Bruderheim, Alberta, made 11 saves against Japan. She played a big role in securing a 5-0 shoutout for Canada.
This was Maschmeyer’s first start to the tournament, and she made it count.
“Any of these teams are very opportunistic and Japan is just that, so whenever they get their shot they are usually quality shots. I know that mentally I have to stay in it, so I do some visualization, move around a little bit and communicate with my defence,” said Maschmeyer.
“I also just try to play the puck and find ways to stay engaged because I know my next shot will probably be a tough one,” continued Maschmeyer.
Maschmeyer’s role model is her older sister Brittaney, who was drafted by the CWHL’s Calgary Inferno and played in Canada’s National Women’s Program.
When Maschmeyer isn’t making saves, she enjoys playing badminton and piano. She also has a habit of putting the right side of her equipment on first.
However, Maschmeyer isn’t the only Albertan in the spotlight this year. Danielle Serdachny from Edmonton is the youngest member of Canada’s National Women’s Team.
“Getting to wear the Team Canada jersey and kind of represent something bigger than yourself, for your country and girls in sports, is just truly an honour and something I will take with me for a long time,” commented Serdachny.
Serdachny comes from a hockey family. Her father, Steve, was a skating coach for the Edmonton Oilers, and her brother Noah was a freshman this season at Colorado College.
Additionally, her little sister Brooke played AAA hockey in Edmonton.
“My dad gets a lot of credit for the skating skills, but my mom’s also been my rock…just constantly driving us to hockey and spending countless hours,” said Serdachny.
This past season, Serdachny scored an impressive 71 points for the NCAA Division 1 Colgate Raiders. She is now bringing her skills to the national team.
Keep cheering for our Canadian women – especially the two Albertans – as the women’s national team tries to defend the Olympic gold they won at the 2022 Beijing Games.
