It wasn't the result Canada was looking for on the scoreboard, but giving our national women's development team the opportunity to face international competition is always a win.

After an 11-day selection camp, Cochrane's Sarah Wozniewicz was selected for the team and faced off against the US in a three-game series that wrapped up on Saturday.

Canada won the series opener in a shootout, but the Americans took the last two to come out on top.

Canada's head coach Kori Cheverie says it provides an important stepping stone between the U18 and national women's teams.

"This age group is so important because once they finish with the U18 team, there isn't necessarily a championship for the development age athletes. Anytime that they can get this crucial international experience is so important to prepare them to make the next step to the senior team," says Cheverie. "It's invaluable having this level, and we wish we could do more, but it's been really important and impactful for us."

She says there's an amazing connection between all three women's teams and their coaches to make sure everyone is on the same page and that no steps are missed.

She believes there's a marked difference in the players after spending the last few weeks in Calgary.

"We noticed a huge improvement, even in their hockey language and how they understand the game and the new information that they've taken in and trying to implement new concepts they maybe they haven't seen before. It has been a good development situation for them."

Wozniewicz, or "Wuz" as she's better known by linemates and in Cochrane, was thrilled to make the team after missing the cut last year.

"It was really fun to be selected to get to play against the USA, and we got to play against the national team. It was a real eyeopener to see how good they are."

Wuz played for Canada's U18 team and is entering her sophomore season with the NCAA's Wisconsin Badgers.

Seven of her university teammates laced up for the three-game series, five of them with Team USA.

"It was really fun to play against them, but it's going to be tough when we go back to hear them brag about who won."

There were also many of the players on the ice she knew as a member of the 2019 Alberta team that won gold at the Canada Winter Games.

Cheverie is currently in Denmark as the assistant coach for the national women's team for the IIHF World Championship that gets underway on Aug. 25. This was her first time coaching Wozniewicz.

"She's a smart player. She is never going to take a shift off, she's always going to have a smile on her face, and she's always going to try to do things the right way, so it was a pleasure to coach her."

Wuz says the last two weeks reinforced the need to keep improving.

"It's so hard to make these teams, and you always have to be on point and keep pushing to make them, or else you're going to be cut the next year because we're not guaranteed a spot."

She played for the Edge School for four years before being recruited by the Badgers. She was pursued by several post-secondary institutes but chose the Badgers because of their program and the friendly atmosphere of Madison that she compares to Cochrane.

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