CRANBERRY, Pa. -- If you were hoping to come to either of the two games between the U.S. and Canadian women’s national teams at the Lemieux Complex in Cranberry this week and haven’t bought tickets yet, you’re out of luck.
Both games -- Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 10 at 1 p.m. -- are completely sold out.
The main rink at the Lemieux Complex has seating for approximately 1,000 people.
“Every time the U.S. and Canada face off you can expect each team’s best,” said Team USA goaltender Maddie Rooney. “So I think fans will be happy with what they see and get a great performance out of both of us.”
When I was talking to Hilary Knight after practice on Thursday, I mentioned that both games were sold out.
"That's awesome," Knight said. "I didn't even know. Any time you can play in front of a sold out barn, obviously this is a little smaller for us than what we're used to, but it's going to be loud. We're really proud to be the home team tomorrow night, it's going to be great.
The Canadians are looking forward to the atmosphere, too.
"Oh yeah, I'm excited," said Sarah Nurse. "This is a really cool building and I think it will be great for the fans to see us. I hope that a lot of people come out."
"The crowd, the atmosphere is going to be awesome," Natalie Spooner told me. "I'm just looking forward to getting the games underway since we've been training for a bit, I'm excited that tomorrow is game day."
The Lemieux Complex previously sold out when the NWHL hosted four neutral site games in Cranberry -- the 2017 All-Star skills competition and game, a 2017-18 regular season game between the Buffalo Beauts and Connecticut Whale, and a 2018-19 regular season game between the Whale and Metropolitan Riveters.
The morning skates on Nov. 8 will take place at 10:20 a.m. on the Lemieux Complex’s second rink and are free and open to the public. Canada will have a practice on Nov. 9 at 9:30 a.m. that is free and open to the public in Cranberry, and Team USA will have a youth clinic at PPG Paints Arena on Nov. 9 at 3 p.m. that is free for fans to watch.
