The first hint of concern regarding the readiness of Canada’s women’s hockey team was raised by coach Troy Ryan two days before the defending Olympic champions opened their four-game Rivalry Series against the United States last month.
Whatever advantage Canada might have in returning a veteran roster with an edge in international experience isn’t enough to make a difference once the puck drops, Ryan told The Associated Press then. What worried him particularly after a sloppy practice was his players using that experience as a crutch.
“Sometimes what happens with experienced teams that have experienced a lot together, complacency can creep in,” he said.
“When you have trust in people, a lot of times you trust and trust and trust, and it can end up working against you,” Ryan added. “So, ‘Oh, we’ll be fine. Our passing will get better. We’ll be better come the Olympics,’ I don’t believe in that. ... So that's the challenge. How do you keep pushing? How do you keep finding ways to improve?"
A month and three lopsided losses later, in which the U.S. has outscored Canada by a combined 20-6, Ryan’s concerns haven't abated.
With less than two months before the women’s tournament opens in Milan, questions are being raised about not only complacency, but whether the Canadians have the wherewithal to keep up with their speedier and younger U.S. rivals.
“There was a lack of compete,” Ryan said following a 10-4 loss to the Americans in Edmonton, Alberta, on Wednesday. “We had a meeting this afternoon and it was generally all on compete. And we have to be better competing.”
Ryan dismissed questions over whether Canada can compete against its cross-border rivals.
“They’ve got a ton of youth. They’ve got a ton of speed. They’ve got a ton of skill,” Ryan said. “It doesn’t mean you can’t be successful against a group like that. But to do it, you’re going to have to compete. You’re going to have to play with structure.”
The U.S now has a 16-14 edge in the series, which began in 2018-19 and has become one of the fiercest rivalries in sports.
While series results have previously had little bearing on which nation has the edge in international tournaments, Canada’s performance so far is cause for concern. The 10 goals against were the most the Canadian women have ever allowed to any opponent.
With one series game left on Saturday in Edmonton, and players returning to their respective PWHL and college teams to resume their seasons next week, Ryan has limited practice time to make corrections before heading to Italy.
“Of course this game is frustrating. But we have one more game against them before the Olympics,” Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin said. “These are important games. We didn’t show up. It’s unacceptable. And we’re all aware of it.”
The Canadians have the edge in Olympic competition, having won five gold medals to the Americans’ two (1998, 2018). The U.S., however, has closed the gap in world championship play.
Canada still leads with 13 world titles, but the U.S. has won 11, including 10 of the last 14 following a 4-3 overtime win over Canada in the gold-medal game in April.
And the tables have turned in the four years since Canada played a breathtaking, up-tempo style to dominate the 2022 Beijing Games. The Canadians finished 7-0 and outscored their opponents by a whopping margin of 57-10. The closest anyone came to beating them was the U.S. in a 3-2 loss in the gold medal game.
This time, the Americans appear primed to dominate with a team that features several key holdovers in Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne Schofield, Alex Carpenter and Lee Stecklein. Coach John Wroblewski has spent the past four years reinforcing his roster with a collection of youngsters such as defenders Caroline Harvey and Laila Edwards, and the goalie tandem of Aerin Frankel and Gwyneth Philips.
Winning three Rivalry Series outings has further motivated the Americans.
“The work doesn’t stop,” Coyne Schofield said. “I don’t think you’re ever satisfied until that final game.”
For Canada, there’s even more work to do in preparation for an Olympic tournament in which the Czech Republic and Finland are showing signs of catching up to the world’s two dominant powers.
“We definitely need to have a big reset and have a plan,” Canadian defender Jocelyne Larocque said. “Right now, we have a choice. We have a choice to learn, to get better, to compete harder, to just play Canadian hockey.”
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
AP women’s hockey: https://apnews.com/hub/womens-hockey
United States players celebrates a goal against Canada during the first period of Rivalry Series game in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States' Abbey Murphy (37) checks Canada's Ella Shelton (17) during the second period of Rivalry Series game in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
United States players celebrates a goal against Canada during the first period of Rivalry Series game in Edmonton on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Friday that Thai and Cambodian leaders have agreed to renew a truce after days of deadly clashes had threatened to undo a ceasefire the U.S. administration had helped broker earlier this year.
Trump announced the agreement to restart the ceasefire in a social media posting following calls with Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
“They have agreed to CEASE all shooting effective this evening, and go back to the original Peace Accord made with me, and them, with the help of the Great Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim,” Trump said in his Truth Social posting.
Thai and Cambodian officials offered no immediate comment following Trump's announcement. Anutin, after speaking with Trump but before the U.S. president's social media posting, said he reiterated to Trump that Thailand’s position was to keep fighting until Cambodia no longer poses a threat to its sovereignty.
Trump, a Republican, said that Ibrahim played an important role in helping him push Thailand and Cambodia to once again agree to stop fighting.
“It is my Honor to work with Anutin and Hun in resolving what could have evolved into a major War between two otherwise wonderful and prosperous Countries!” Trump added.
The original ceasefire in July was brokered by Malaysia and pushed through by pressure from Trump, who threatened to withhold trade privileges unless Thailand and Cambodia agreed. It was formalized in more detail in October at a regional meeting in Malaysia that Trump attended.
Despite the deal, the two countries carried on a bitter propaganda war and minor cross-border violence continued.
The roots of the Thai-Cambodian border conflict lie in a history of enmity over competing territorial claims. These claims largely stem from a 1907 map created while Cambodia was under French colonial rule, which Thailand maintains is inaccurate. Tensions were exacerbated by a 1962 International Court of Justice ruling that awarded sovereignty to Cambodia, which still riles many Thais.
Thailand has deployed jet fighters to carry out airstrikes on what it says are military targets. Cambodia has deployed BM-21 rocket launchers with a range of 30-40 kilometers (19-25 miles).
According to data collected by public broadcaster ThaiPBS, at least six of the Thai soldiers who were killed were hit by rocket shrapnel.
The Thai army’s northeastern regional command said Thursday that some residential areas and homes near the border were damaged by BM-21 rocket launchers from Cambodian forces.
The Thai army also said it destroyed a tall crane atop a hill held by Cambodia where the centuries-old Preah Vihear temple is located, because it allegedly held electronic and optical devices used for military command and control purposes.
Trump has repeatedly made the exaggerated claim that he has helped solve eight conflicts, including the one between Thailand and Cambodia, since returning to office in January, as evidence of his negotiating prowess. And he's not been shy about his desire to be recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize.
In an exchange with reporters later Friday, Trump credited his administration with doing a “a very good job” with its push to stem the renewed fighting.
“And we got it, I think, straightened out today,” Trump said as he hosted members of the 1980 U.S. men's hockey team in the Oval Office. “So Thailand and Cambodia is in good shape.”
Another ceasefire that Trump takes credit for working out, between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, is also under strain — just after the leaders of the African nations traveled to Washington to sign a peace deal.
A joint statement released by the International Contact Group for the Great Lakes expressed “profound concern” over the situation in Congo’s South Kivu region, where new deadly violence blamed on the Rwandan-backed M23 militia group has exploded in recent days.
The Great Lakes contact group — which includes Belgium, Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States and the European Union — has urged all sides “to uphold their commitments” under the deal signed last week and “immediately de-escalate the situation.”
And Trump's internationally endorsed plan to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza is still not finalized and in limbo, with sporadic fighting continuing while a critical second phase remains a work in progress.
AP writers Jintamas Saksornchai in Buriram, Thailand, Grant Peck in Bangkok and Matthew Lee contributed reporting.
President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump gestures during a signing ceremony on an AI initiative in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
President Donald Trump speaks to guests in the Grand Foyer of the White House during the Congressional Ball, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
