Will Team USA Audition Laila Edwards On The Blueline?

Many likely assumed it was a typo, but when Team USA announced their 2024-2025 Rivalry Series roster for three dates in the United States, the reigning World Championship MVP was listed at an unfamiliar position. USA Hockey had listed Laila Edwards as a defender.

Last year, Edwards played on her typical wing, but there's discussion among USA Hockey officials that they may test the six-foot forward on the blueline. Some believe it may be due to the potential absence of Rory Guilday. Those theories took another step this weekend when Edwards made her debut on the blueline with the University of Wisconsin Badgers.

Opening their Friday game against Bemidji State with only five blueliners, Edwards saw time on the left wing, but also on the point in the game. Wisconsin won the game 6-0.

“She’s excited," said Wisconsin head coach Mark Johnson of informing Edwards of her positional change mid-game. "I told her to move to other end bench and she’s all fired up."

Edwards currently sits third in NCAA scoring this season with 18 points in 10 games.

Last spring in her first World Championship appearance, Edwards was voted tournament MVP after scoring six goals and eight points in nine games for the Americans.

USA listed eight defenders, including Edwards, for the first stops on the Rivalry Series. One notable omission was right shot defender Sydney Morrow, who was an alternate for USA at the World Championships and is off to another strong start in the NCAA this season after transferring from Colgate to the University of Minnesota.

If she makes the change, Edwards wouldn't be the only defender in the family. Her older sister Chayla Edwards was a stalwart on the Wisconsin blueline the past four seasons and this year was invited to training camp as a free agent with the PWHL's New York Sirens.

The first game of the 2024-2025 Rivalry Series between Canada and USA gets underway November 6 in San Jose, California.

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