Canada Beats USA In Shootout To Win Summer Series

Canada won their second straight against USA in the Summer Series between Canada's National Development team and USA's Collegiate Select roster. Canada took the opening game in the series 1-0 before beating USA 2-1 in a shootout Thursday. Only 1:49 into the game, Abby Stonehouse opened the scoring. Stonehouse pounced on a turnover at Canada's blueline before taking the puck the length of the ice beating Uma Corniea blocker side. USA outshot Canada throughout the game firing 38 shots on Canada's Eve Gascon. It wasn't until the third period when Ava Lindsay scored the equalizer with only 9:36 remaining.  After the game ended tied 1-1 and overtime solved nothing, the teams headed to a shootout where Eve Gascon stopped all four American attempts, and Caitlin Kraemer and Chloe Primerano scored in the shootout, Canada earned the 2-1 win. Gascon Shines Again After stopping all 23 shots she faced in game one posting a 23-save shutout, Gascon turned aside 37 and four in the shootout to lead Canada to a 2-1 win. Gascon is considered Canada's goalie of the future, and her presence in the net has been a difference maker. "She's just, on and off the ice, she's great. She's a calming presence. It's pretty nice when you have that confidence playing in front of her," said National Development team head coach Vicky Sunohara. "She makes the right save. She plays the puck well. She's pretty impressive. Gascon was a First Team All-American for Minnesota-Duluth in 2025 and was named Canada's third goalie winning silver at the 2025 World Championships. She also made her Rivalry Series debut last season. Primerano and Kraemer Step Up Perhaps the biggest difference from last year's Summer Series between Canada's National Development team and USA's Collegiate Select team is that Canada's best players are now returning as veterans, rather than untested youth against USA's veteran collegiate players. In recent seasons, USA's roster has been heavy with future PWHL stars. This year, Canada's youth movement has shown they've taken a collective step forward, particularly Chloe Primerano and Caitlin Kraemer. Both have spent time with Canada's senior national team, and that experience was on full display through their impactful play amongst their peers in this series. Sunohara, who also called Primerano passionate about the game having watched her grow from the U-18 national team where Sunohara coached the University of Minnesota blueliner to now. “It’s fun to watch and to see her growth and development since the U-18s, said Sunohara. “Obviously, having her there for two years, just really privileged to watch her play, and she continues to want to get better one day at a time. So I really like that. She's in a leadership role in our group, so you know she's earned that, and I think she's setting a great example for others.” The pair have played big minutes this series in key situations, including both stepping forward and scoring in the shootout.