Comparing The Future Of Canada And USA’s National Teams From Their U-18 And Development Teams

If USA’s national development team is any indication, Canada should be worried about the wave of talent in USA’s immediate future. Currently, the group of American players in the NCAA are far superior to Canada’s NCAA cohort. Conversely, Canada’s group entering the NCAA and soon to enter the NCAA is stronger than USA’s.

It’s a back and forth of development that could have gold medals continuing to change hands for years.

Looking At The Development Teams

Team USA’s roster is loaded with senior national team members Caroline Harvey, and Laila Edwards, Kirsten Simms, Haley Winn, Tessa Janecke, Lacey Eden, Rory Guilday, Joy Dunne, and Sydney Morrow in the lineup. USA stalwart Abbey Murphy who also remains in the NCAA was not in camp, nor was Casey O’Brien due to injury. That absence represents the second and third overall NCAA scorers, showcasing that despite the depth of USA’s roster, there is still more in the tank for the Americans at this level.

Were Canada to field a team of national team members at the development level, it would only include Nicole Gosling from their World Championship roster, although she was not on Canada’s development roster. Anne Cherkowski who will play for Canada appeared at the Rivalry Series for Canada.

Instead, Canada is flaunting their next wave at the summer series. That group includes several players yet to make their NCAA debut such as Caitlin Kraemer, Emma Venusio, Mackenzie Alexander, Claire Murdoch, and Gracie Graham. Kraemer recently set Canada’s all-time U-18 scoring record, a record held by Marie-Philip Poulin. Venusio is a hard shooting blueliner who captained Canada’s U-18 roster. The entire group looks like future national team players, and Canada chose to kept their best prospect, Chloe Primerano, at the U-18 level this summer.

One notable absence from Canada’s lineup is the only current NCAA player to finish in the top 10 in national scoring last season, Abby Hustler, who put up 55 points in 39 games for St. Lawrence. Canada’s top young forwards at the event include Emmalee Pais and Jocelyn Amos who both look like good bets to get longer looks from Canada’s senior national team soon.

One point on the roster Canada’s roster where they have an edge on the USA is in net. Canada is bringing three strong netminders in Eve Gascon, Hannah Murphy, and Hailey MacLeod. USA’s net is also strong, but their youngest netminder, Anneleis Bergmann looks like the top prospect capable of grabbing a national team spot in the future.

Related: USA Names A Powerhouse Lineup For National Development Team

Different Approaches To U-18 Rosters

It’s nothing new, but USA will bring a much younger group to the U-18 series featuring five players born in 2009. That group includes defender Chyna Taylor, and forwards Sydney Stoughton, Jane Daley, Annabelle Lovell, and Adrianna Milani. It’s a trend for USA that will also see 2008 born players Haley Box, Maggie Averill, and Natalia Dilbone returning.

Canada’s roster, which is older, features a highly skilled group with significant firepower that will again enter the U-18 World Championships as heavy favorites. Last season Canada was also the heavy favorite, but was upset by Czechia in the semifinals and had to settle for bronze. This year’s roster includes the 2023 leading scorer, Best Defender, and tournament MVP Chloe Primerano who will jump to NCAA a season early. The roster also includes highly regarded prospects Sara Manness, Stryker Zablocki, Maxine Cimeroni, Rosalie Tremblay, Hayley McDonald, Dorothy Copetti and Riley Sorokan. Omissions from Canada’s roster including Madison Burr would likely be top six forwards on any other nation’s roster, including USA.

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