Taylor Heise shines as USA women rout Canada 4–1 in Rivalry Series opener | Ice hockey

Taylor Heise scored and assisted each of Abby Murphy's three goals, and the U.S. women's national hockey team opened its pre-Olympic rivalry series with a victory over Canada on Thursday evening.

Layla Edwards picked up an assist in her return to Cleveland, her shot from the right point deflected by Heise midway through the first period. Edwards, 21, is a forward-turned-defender from Cleveland Heights and the first black female player to play for the U.S. national team.

Presumptive U.S. starter Erin Frankel stopped 26 shots as the Americans won three straight against their cross-border rivals. The streak began with a two-game win over Canada at the World Cup in the Czech Republic in April, including a 4-3 overtime win in the title game.

Sarah Fillier scored for Canada. Eva Gascón stopped 22 shots in her Canada debut. The University of Minnesota-Duluth's junior squad started with coach Troy Ryan opting for a younger lineup. Canada left several veterans at home, including goalkeeper Anne-Renee Desbiens.

The teams will meet again on Saturday in Buffalo, New York. The four-game series between the world powers will conclude with two games in Edmonton, Alberta, next month.

While the Americans current world championsCanadians are the reigning Olympic champions, having won their fifth gold at the 2022 Beijing Games.

After Filje and Heise traded goals 16 seconds apart, the Americans opened the game in the second period when Murphy scored on a pair of assists to Heise. Murphy then completed her hat trick by capitalizing on Heise's through-the-center pass for a power-play goal at 1:54 of the third period.

Edwards is a senior at Wisconsin High School and is preparing to make her Olympic debut at the Cortina Games in Milan in February.

She was honored to take part in the ceremonial opening face-off against Canadian captain Marie-Philippe Poulin, making the lineup three weeks after being sidelined with a left knee injury.

She has already won a national championship with the Badgers, a world championship gold medal in April and was named World Cup MVP in 2024 when the U.S. lost to Canada in her tournament debut in Utica, New York.

Edwards was also stunned to watch the NBA Cavaliers play the night before. post a photo on X former star Larry Nance arrived at the home game against Philadelphia wearing Edwards' No. 10 USA hockey jersey. She found out while having dinner with family at her childhood home and was joined by her U.S. and Wisconsin teammate Caroline Harvey.