The United States and Canada are bringing their women’s hockey rivalry to Pittsburgh.
The Penguins announced Tuesday that the national teams will meet in a rematch of their gold medal game at the recently completed Beijing winter Olympics on March 12 at PPG Paints Arena. Face off is 4 p.m.
“The Penguins are honored to support the Canadian and USA women’s hockey all stars returning from Beijing and host the Rivalry Rematch at PPG Paints Arena,” Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said in a news release. “Growing the sport of ice hockey at all levels has been at the foundation of our franchise over the past 15 years. There is no doubt these women athletes have influenced and advanced the sport of hockey for girls, not only in Pittsburgh, but across North America. We are thrilled to host some of the best players in the world in front of our fans.”
The two teams have battled fiercely in international competition in recent years, and each side has had its share of triumphs. The Americans most recently won gold at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea before the Canadians triumphed by a 3-2 margin in Beijing back on Feb. 17.
The intensity of the series has made for compelling television, as that last meeting drew 3.54 million viewers on NBC, making it the second-most watched hockey game in the United States since 2019, according to the news release.
Now, local fans will get a chance to see them go head-to-head yet again. Tickets for the event are on sale via Ticketmaster and the Penguins’ website and start at $30. Organizers are hoping for a big turnout.
“This rivalry is one of the most storied in all of sports and we’re thrilled that the Pittsburgh Penguins have provided the opportunity for fans to watch these women battle it out, once again,” said Jayna Hefford, operations consultant for the Professional Women’s Hockey Players Association. “It’s no secret that the past few years have been difficult for women’s hockey, but these players proved in Beijing that they have the tremendous ability to fight through every challenge and play some of the best hockey the sport has ever seen. This rematch will be a fun experience not only for the players themselves, but for fans, the Pittsburgh community and women’s hockey in general.”
The game will also be televised locally on AT&T SportsNet, with Penguins play-by-play announcer Steve Mears on the call. He’ll be joined in the booth by special guests throughout the broadcast, and the Penguins’ Michelle Crechiolo will serve as rink-side reporter.
Adam Bittner: abittner@post-gazette.com and Twitter @fugimaster24.
First Published: March 1, 2022, 9:26 p.m.
