Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States
Julia and Nicole Gosling have worn the Maple Leaf on the U18 and growth ranges, and now the cousins are reunited because the Rivalry Series involves Ontario
From teammates to school hockey opponents, Nicole and Julia Gosling are reuniting on the ice as teammates as soon as once more when Canada’s National Women’s
Team resumes the Rivalry Series on residence ice.
The London, Ontario, cousins are trying ahead to reconnecting on one other
Team Canada squad because the Canadians look to make an impression towards the United
States in marquee match-ups in Kitchener and Sarnia.
“I’m tremendous excited. Anytime you get to place that jersey on is a good
feeling, however to have the ability to do it at this stage is a dream come true,” Nicole
says.
Nicole, a 5-foot-7 defender and Julia, a 5-foot-11 ahead, final performed
along with Canada’s National Women’s Development Team in a three-game
collection towards the U.S. in August 2022. They additionally shared the ice with the
National Women’s Under-18 Team in 2019, serving to Canada to a gold medal at
the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship. Both are trying ahead to being
on the identical facet and discovering their earlier chemistry.
“The chemistry is all the time there—she will be able to all the time discover me, and I all the time know
the place she is,” Julia says. “We can learn one another very effectively on the ice. It
can be good to not must go up towards her, but in addition to have our household
round to see us play collectively once more.”
The U18 Women’s Worlds expertise was a spotlight for each Goslings, and
seeing Julia make her nationwide group debut in the course of the 2021-22 Olympic
centralization was a second of satisfaction for Nicole. Despite being opponents
recently, the household ties are robust.
“Our first yr enjoying for Team Canada was the yr we gained gold and that
was a particular expertise,” Nicole says. “I’ve watched Julia have her success
the yr earlier than when she made the group. With her being a yr older, I’m
in a position to watch from her experiences and hopefully be capable to observe her.
Anytime I get to play together with her, it’s particular not just for us, however for our
household as effectively.”
While Nicole made her debut with Canada’s National Women’s
Team on residence ice in Kitchener, Julia is representing Canada for a 3rd time within the
Rivalry Series.
“There are completely different roles on the group, and it is very important be a sponge
and absorb as a lot data as attainable,” Nicole says. “I need to acquire
as a lot data as I can after I’m round these gamers and coaches.
Julia has all the time shared nice issues and I can’t wait to expertise that for
myself.”
It’s been a busy college yr for each Goslings—Julia is a senior at St.
Lawrence University and is third in ECAC scoring with 29 factors, whereas
Nicole is a senior at Clarkson University and is sixth in assists. Their
groups sit third and fourth in a decent race within the ECAC standings, so
reuniting as teammates on Team Canada is a pleasant change of tempo for the
cousins.
“I do know she can be somewhat nervous about making her debut, however she’s going to
study on her personal—she’s good and chill. I feel she’s going to do effectively, however I’ll
be there to assist her by means of it,” Julia shares. “We’ve been enjoying towards
one another so typically now that it appears like there that’s additional
competitiveness when your loved ones, however it’s all love although. We need every
different to achieve success.”
The cousins are solely a yr aside and have all the time been shut—their fathers
are an identical twins and their households dwell solely quarter-hour aside in
London—but it surely was hockey that bonded them even additional.
“When we had been youthful, we had been each shy children and hockey is what introduced us
collectively,” Julia says.
Representing Canada with the National Women’s Team just isn’t solely a dream come
true, however it’s additional particular with the ability to do it so near residence.
Kitchener and Sarnia are simply over an hour away from their hometown. They
anticipate many relations and pals with Gosling jerseys within the
stands, which makes this reunion much more particular.
“I feel we can have quite a lot of Goslings within the stands. It can be nice to
have that assist so shut,” Julia says. “Having Nicole and I on the identical
group when these video games are so near house is simply the very best.”
“Hockey is all the time about connections and making friendships however doing it with
a member of the family makes it that rather more particular,” Nicole provides. “Having that
assist within the crowd can be particular.”
The Rivalry Series performs an necessary function in how Canada and the United
States choose their last rosters for the IIHF Women’s World Championship.
Julia and Nicole are hoping to showcase their talent and earn their subsequent
alternative to put on the Maple Leaf.
“This has always been our dream to play at the next level together,” Nicole
says. “Now that we’re right here, we need to profit from it and assist every
different.”
