We’re down to the Final Four at the IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship in Vantaa. Defending champion USA goes up against Sweden for a place in Sunday’s gold-medal game, then Czechia takes on Canada looking to repeat last year’s stunning semifinal success. Before that, there’s also the relegation battle between Slovakia and Japan.

USA vs Sweden (15:00)

  

Sweden has Edit Danielsson who has scored four times in four game, leading the team. And she’s not just a scorer: her goal line intervention at the other end denied Japan an overtime winner when they met in the group stage. Sweden has also got goals from their third line and if they get the Tilde Grillfors line to click, and get goals from players not named Edit, they’ll be dangerous.

At the other end of there in, Maja Helge is a solid foundation for the Swedish defence. The unflappable Swede is capable of frustrating any team.

But that is easier said than done when facing the hurricane that is Team USA. Captain Bella Fanale seems to be everywhere. That was never more obvious than in her monster shift against Slovakian phenom Nela Lopusanova, when she forced her to send a backhander towards the US net, grabbed the rebound and accelerated through the neutral zone, then splitting the Slovak defence before finishing the rush with a top shelf shot.

"The kid's a real deal. She showed her speed at the end of a long shift, her hands, and her determination. If anyone's wondering what Bella Fanale is about, they should watch those twelve seconds and have no more questions,” Team USA coach Liz Keady Norton said.

If Sweden manages to weather the storm, they also have goalie to solve. Morgan Stickney has only allowed one goal in the tournament.

However, maybe the teams take out each other's stars? This game could produce an unlikely hero.

Canada vs Czechia (18:30)

  

There was something ominous in the way Canada demolished Japan 17-0 in its quarterfinal game. Under Vicky Sunohara, this team has looked steadily more impressive through the group phase, clicking into gear after making harder work than expected of group games against Slovakia and Switzerland.

After those games, Sunohara worried that her players were overcomplicating things at times; in the QF the focus was on doing the simple things well – over and over again. It brought a record-equalling victory and sets up a semi-final against Czechia.

A year ago, a similarly authoritative Canadian march to the final four was spectacularly derailed by the Czechs. Now there’s a shot at revenge. And, of the top five scorers so far in Vantaa, four are Canadians who suffered that painful loss in Zug 12 months ago. Maxine Cimoroni leads the way with 10 (4+6) points, ahead of Stryker Zablocki, whose six markers to date lead the tournament in goals. Then come Chloe Primerano and Sara Manness with eight points apiece. That’s firepower enough to threaten any opponent.

For the Czechs, though, this isn’t Mission: Impossible. Although last year’s scoring leaders – notably Anezka Cebalova and Adela Sapovalilova, who starred in that 4-2 semifinal sensation – are no longer available, the Czechs of 2025 are building on their legacy.

Goalie Daniela Novakova has played every minute so far, facing 111 shots and allowing just nine goals. She was instrumental in keeping the Czechs in the game when they met Canada in Group B, and produced a shut-out to oust the Finns in Thursday’s quarter-final. Meanwhile, this year’s scoring is shared more evenly, with four players on four points and five more on three. Captain Linda Vocetkova is leading by example with three goals and an assist and, after playing on last year’s silver medal team she believes a repeat is possible.

“Nothing is impossible,” she insisted. “Last time against Canada it was a good game by us, and if we can avoid mistakes, I think we can win.”

Head coach Dusan Andrasovsky is also keen to highlight the 2024 success. “Last year’s experience is important for us,” he said. “Our players know that they can do anything. Maybe we wouldn’t beat Canada ten times out ten, but once…?”

Relegation game: Slovakia vs Japan (11:30)

Newly-promoted Japan showed some bright signs during the group stage – notably getting in front in games against Finland and Sweden. That latter game, which ended in an OT loss, was the closest the Japanese have come to winning a group stage game since 2010. However, Thursday’s quarterfinal was a harrowing experience as Canada racked up 17 goals in a lopsided affair. Forward Umeka Odaira could be the attacking force Japan needs to avoid an immediate return to Division I.

Meanwhile Slovakia was not expected to be in relegation trouble this year. The past three campaigns saw the Slovaks stay out of trouble and Michal Kobezda’s team was competitive again this year. Against Canada and Czechia there was plenty of promise, despite a tendency to run out of steam in the third period. But a shock 2-5 loss to Switzerland meant last place in Group B and a tough task against the USA in the QF. Nela Lopusanova has had a hand in all nine Slovak goals in Vantaa so far; her line with Ema Tothova and Gabriela Lacna is likely to be the crucial weapon in Saturday’s showdown.