Who improved their stock to make Canada, USA women’s Olympic hockey teams?

With the Rivalry Series now complete, featuring a one-sided domination from the United States, we’re on the homestretch to roster configuration for the two North American superpowers heading into the 2026 Winter Olympics.

While the usual suspects are set to don their nation’s colors in Italy in February, a few players have used the Rivalry Series as an opportunity to show their stuff on the international stage, with others rising to the occasion either in the PWHL or collegiate ranks in hopes of playing on sport’s biggest stage.

Today, I took a look at six players – three Americans and three Canadians – who have played their way into the conversation for inclusion on their respective national team rosters:

Canada

Caitlin Kraemer (F, Minnesota Duluth)

Kraemer has been on everyone’s radar for the national team since she wowed everyone with her amazing performances at the IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championships, scoring 20 goals in 11 games over the 2023 and 2024 tournaments. The Kitchener native has been an efficient scorer on a Bulldogs team that has tried to keep up with the “Big Three” (Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin) in the WCHA. She got her first taste with the senior Canadians during the Rivalry Series, though she didn’t register a point in three games.

The reigning NCAA Rookie of the Year is off to a great start in her sophomore season at UMD, posting 18 points in 16 games, and could be a viable depth option for Troy Ryan’s team in Milan.

Kayle Osborne (G, New York Sirens)

See? Just like the men’s game, we get all excited about who will be the No. 3 for an Olympic team. I know I’ve been tooting the horn to get Kraemer’s Duluth teammate, Eve Gascon, to be on the Olympic roster. However, with the Winter Games falling right in the heat of the final push in the college regular season, it seems unlikely that the Bulldogs would be happy with their No. 1 netminder leaving for a month just to sit in the press box.

Enter Kayle Osborne, who started Game 2 of the Rivalry Series, giving up five goals on 31 shots. Yet, with how she’s played early on for the Sirens, she would be a solid option to help support Ann-Renee Desbiens and Emerance Maschmeyer. Unless Seattle Torrent netminder Corinne Schroeder plays out of her mind over the next couple of weeks, I wouldn’t be shocked if Osborne gets the invite this time around.

Nicole Gosling (D, Montreal Victoire)

Did the Rivalry Series expose Canada’s defensive woes? Sure. However, it further highlighted the need for solid blueliners with extensive experience playing in Italy. Gosling was back on the Canadian roster during the Rivarly Series, her first international experience at the senior level since the 2024 IIHF Women’s World Championship. While things didn’t go her team’s way in her lone appearance, the 10-4 thrashing in Game 3 last week, she’s proven to be at least an option to make the Olympic roster as the seventh or eighth defender.

Three games into her rookie season with Montreal, the London, Ont. native has been given a significant role with the Victoire. She has averaged over 20 minutes a game and has been playing on the team’s top pair with Erin Ambrose. I’ve been impressed with her game since her time in Clarkson, and she deserves to be back on the Team Canada roster.

United States

Rory Guilday (D, Ottawa Charge)

I was pretty hesitant about Guilday heading into her PWHL rookie season. She was an excellent defensive prospect but didn’t have much offensive upside. Even though she had played for the U.S. at three Women’s Worlds, I wasn’t sure she’d be considered for the Olympic roster, especially since Laila Edwards has made a pretty successful transition to defense. Yet, Guilday has logged a lot of minutes with Ottawa this season, posting three points in four games, and didn’t seem out of place in her three appearances during the Rivarly Series.

Nicole Hensley (G, Minnesota Frost)

In a similar situation to Team Canada, I don’t see why Wisconsin would be willing to let Ava McNaughton go off to Italy, especially since the Badgers are already going to be shorthanded enough with Edwards, Kirsten Simms and Caroline Harvey going to the Olympics.

That really opens the door for Hensley, who’s looking back to form after a bumpy 2024-25 season. Even though she wasn’t on the Americans’ Rivalry Series roster, she played well in her first two games with the Frost this season. The Colorado native was on the U.S. roster at each of the past two Olympics, and certainly isn’t a bad choice to be the team’s third-stringer behind Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips.

Grace Zumwinkle (F, Minnesota Frost)

I know what you’re saying…”But Tyler, Zumwinkle has been on the U.S. roster at the WWC three times, as well as the 2022 Olympic team. How could she have been an outsider?”

Well, loyal reader, given Zumwinkle’s sophomore slump last season with Minnesota, and the fact she arguably made the team last spring due to Hannah Bilka’s injury, I didn’t think she’d crack the top 14 forwards this year. However, given how the 26-year-old has played so far this season, it’s hard to deny the fact that she has looked rejuvenated with the Frost this season, potting two goals in the first four games of the season. Also, she contributed during the Rivalry Series, even though she played on what was listed as the fifth line.

She might not be one of America’s go-to players in Milan, but she has the talent and confidence to fill in wherever she’s needed.

Read more women’s hockey stories at DFO