A further review of Pan American qualification matches reveals that the both the USA and Canada Women are in the midst of significant dry spells. Team Canada has not participated in a senior women’s event since the summer of 2007 when they finished 6th in both the PANAM Games and Pan American Elite Championships. In 2009 the Canadian Federation decided not to participate in the 2009 Pan American Championship as they felt they could not field a competitive team for the event. This relegated Canada to Div 1 status, but they chose not to field a team at the recent Div 1 Championship in Cuba.

Team USA has participated in Div 1 Championship events, but did not fare well in either the 2010 or 2008 Championships, losing all 7 matches that they played. There was, however, minimal preparation for either of these tournaments as the new Federation did not encourage participation in either event.

Prior to the 2007 hiatus, Canada had gotten the better of the USA, beating them 2 games to zero in 2007 PANAM Games qualification and in a pool play match at the 2007 PATHF Elite Championships. These results from 2007 probably don’t mean a whole lot as both teams are rebuilding and have several new players on their rosters. A series win and a trip to the PANAM Games, however, will be a welcome start to either program.

[b]Canada Women Results since Jan 2007[/b]
Jan 07: PANAM Games Qualification: Beat USA in best of 3 series; 2-0-0 Record; Beat USA (28-22); Beat USA (25-16)
Jun 07 PATHF Elite Championships: 6th out of 8 teams; 2-0-3 Record; Beat USA (31-29) in pool play
Jul 07 PANAM Games: 6th out of 8 teams; 1-0-4 Record
Jun 09 PATHF Elite Championships: Chose not to compete
Nov 10 Div 1 Championships: Chose not to compete

THN (21 Jun 09): Canada to not compete at Women’s PATHF Championship: http://teamhandballnews.com/news.php?item.780

[b]USA Women Results since Jan 2007[/b]
Jan 07: PANAM Games Qualification: Lost to Canada in best of 3 series; 0-0-2 Record; Lost to Canada (28-22); Lost to Canada (25-16)
Mar 07: PANAM Games 2nd Chance Qualification: 3rd out of 3 teams; 0-0-2 record; Lost to Mexico (29-20); Lost to Chile (31-30)
Jun 07: PATHF Elite Championships: 7th out of 8 teams; 1-1-3 Record
Jul 07: PANAM Games: Did not qualify for event
Nov 08: PATHF Div 1 Championships: 4th out of 4 teams; 0-0-5 Record; Lost to Chile (17-27) Lost to Puerto Rico (24-32); Lost to Mexico (31-23); Lost to Mexico (33-14); Lost to Puerto Rico (26-21)
Jun 09: PATHF Elite Championships: Did not qualify for event
Nov 10: Div 1 Championships: 3rd out of 3 teams; 0-2 Record; Lost to Cuba (40-20); Lost to Venezuela (32-21)