Four Ottawa Charge Players Set For Rivalry Series With Team USA

Ottawa Charge players Savannah Harmon, Hayley Scamurra, Gabbie Hughes and Gwyneth Philips have been named to Team USA’s roster for the November Rivalry Series, which kicks off Nov. 6 at Tech CU Arena in San Jose, California.

The four Ottawa players are the second-most from any PWHL team, behind the six players named from the Minnesota Frost.

Harmon, Scamurra and Hughes all participated in the 2023-24 Rivalry Series, in which USA ultimately lost four games to three to Team Canada.

In addition to the San Jose game, this year's November Rivalry Series includes games in West Valley, Utah, and Boise, Idaho.

PWHL training camps open two days later on Nov. 12.

Scamurra said the Series is an ideal warmup for Ottawa's training camp. This year will mark her fourth Rivalry Series.

“It'll definitely be good to get into the game routine, the game rhythm and game speed of things,” Scamurra said. “I'm really looking forward to getting started with that and then heading to training camp.”

It’s also a fun opportunity to play with some familiar faces away from the Ottawa group. Scamurra has been a member of the U.S. National Team since 2019.

“I'm excited to just be back with the U.S. group,” Scamurra said. “We had August camp this year, but it was a little bit different than in past years with the pro league and the timing of everything. So just looking forward to being back with the whole group and playing some fun games out west.”

While the games may be more of a warmup for established national team players like Scamurra, Hughes and Harmon, 24-year-old goaltender Gwyneth Philips will be soaking everything up like a sponge.

“It gets me really excited for the PWHL season because I feel like the best of the best,” Philips said. “And I know that in just a few short weeks now, I'm going to get to play with that really selective group of players.”

A highly-touted player from Northeastern University, winning WHCA National Goalie of the Year in 2023, Philips was selected 14th overall by Ottawa in the 2024 draft. She was the first goalie taken off the board, with Kayle Osborne being taken 28th overall by the Boston Fleet.

Ottawa was quick to ink Philips to a two-year deal in July, indicating the future of the team’s crease.

“She is a young player who has tremendous potential to be one of the best goaltenders in this league," Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld said in a statement from the team. "Her athletic ability, skating, quickness and tenacity are skills we identified in the draft and we believe will help her excel at this level."

Team USA will also be bringing along Nicole Hensley and Aerin Frankel, starters with Minnesota and Boston, respectively. Philips previously backed up the two veterans at the 2024 IIHF World Championships in April, but she never saw any game action.

“Getting to play with Aerin and Nicole is always a blast," Philips said. "They've been around the event and they always have some things to teach me. I'm skating with my goalie coach here in Ottawa, and he's always making jokes when I'll make a save, and he’ll be like, ‘Oh, that was an Aerin Frankel save.’ I definitely picked up a few things from her.”

It remains to be seen how much playing time Philips will see in November, but she’s not expecting anything to be handed to her.

“[Hensley and Frankel] continue to prove themselves, so I just have to wait my turn and show what I can do. Even just the reps in practice at those series help tremendously.”

Besides, she's focused on earning starts behind Ottawa’s Emerance Maschmeyer for this season. The two goalies skated together through the summer and have built a relationship to push each other to be better, Philips said.

“There's always the goal as a backup goalie to be supportive, and then toe that line of making sure you're pushing that starter to make sure they're not comfortable,” she said.

Scamurra is just excited to get to know the young netminder while on the road.

“It's great to have her along and then we'll get to know her a little bit more,” she said. “Especially on these away trips like this, you get to spend more time with each other and get to know each other off the ice as well as on the ice.”

The series will still be an important first step toward turning pro. Playing with the world's best, even if it's just practice reps, is great preparation.

“I think it would be a good way for her to get her feet wet and get ready for the pro league, because it'll be different and a big jump from the college level,” Scamurra said. “Whatever we can do to kind of help her through that, we'll do for her.”

Philips said it is intimidating to be a rookie on the national team, but she's glad to have her new Ottawa teammates with her.

"It's honestly really great to have three players be around that I know I can lean on."

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