Team Canada was stronger when it mattered.
photo: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / MICHELINE VELUVOLU
Canada returns to the throne in the IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women's World Championship as they beat Team USA 3-0 in the gold medal game in Vantaa, Finland.
Caileigh Tiller, Dorothy Copetti and Stryker Zablocki scored for Canada and Marilou Grenier made 14 saves en route to a shutout. Team USA goaltender Morgan Stickney made 26 saves.
"It’s awesome. I’m happy that we could do it together as a team. I think we just stuck together; we’re a super-close team. We play for each other every shift. I’m proud of this team," said Team Canada captain Chloe Primerano, who was also an all-star on the bronze medal team in 2024.
In the 13 previous gold medal games between the two nations, the U.S. had a 7-6 edge over Canada.
No more.
"I’m so proud of the group. We had a plan from the beginning and the players stuck together. They played for one another, and this is what happens. We came out victorious. They were amazing," Team Canada head coach Vicky Sunohara said.
"Canada's an excellent team and it's tough to win when you don't get any goals, but I'm proud of our effort and our toughness," American coach Liz Keady Norton said. "The puck didn't bounce our way today."
Scoring has been difficult in the entire tournament. The final was no exception, and maybe it wasn’t a surprise. Before the gold medal game, Team USA had only allowed two goals in five games, while Canada had allowed five goals.
The average score in the teams' previous 22 U18 Women's Worlds encounters was 2.8 – 2.18 – or, say, 3-2 – but today’s game didn’t quite reach the average.
In the first period, both teams made sure not to make any mistakes and let the other one in the driver’s seat. Stickney and Grenier easily warded off any chances that were created.
It took a power play to get the scoring going. Six minutes into the second period, the U.S.'s Madelyn Kimbrel was sent to the penalty box for tripping and Canada’s special teams got to work. Tiller fired a one-timer from the right circle at 8:06. It found its way through Stickney’s five-hole and in a piece of hockey drama worthy of a spot in a James Bond movie, there was 0:07 left in the penalty. Danica Maynard and Sydney Sawyer were credited with assists.
Canada outshot the U.S. 20-12 in the first two periods, and Stickney had to make several high-quality saves to keep the Americans in the game.
"We were a little nervous in the beginning, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Obviously, it wasn't the result we wanted," Team USA captain Bella Fanale said. "We knew it was going to be fast and physical, and we gave them a game, even though it didn't go our way."
The third period was a constant battle from beginning to end, but with few scoring chances. Both teams also managed to neutralize the opposition stars.
At 10.47, the Canadians doubled their lead. Sawyer shot the puck from the blue line, and Stickney turned away Alex Therien’s deflection, but the puck bounced to Dorothy Copetti. She fired it back toward the net, where it hit an American defender’s skate and surprised Stickney.
The U.S. pulled Stickney in an effort to tie the game but instead, Zablocki added an empty-netter with 1:37 left to round out the scoring at 3-0.
"They were just focused. They kept it simple. They did the small details, and they held each other accountable. They just wanted to play honest hockey and that’s what they did. We had so many skilled players, but they played together and for each other," Sunohara said.
"The tournament is absolutely getting more competitive. We knew every game would be a challenge and we approached it like that. The semi-final between Sweden and the US was a close game as well. The teams are getting very good, and we need to keep raising the bar higher for ourselves and our team did that this week," she added.
Cue Queen's "We Are The Champions."
Caileigh Tiller, Dorothy Copetti and Stryker Zablocki scored for Canada and Marilou Grenier made 14 saves en route to a shutout. Team USA goaltender Morgan Stickney made 26 saves.
"It’s awesome. I’m happy that we could do it together as a team. I think we just stuck together; we’re a super-close team. We play for each other every shift. I’m proud of this team," said Team Canada captain Chloe Primerano, who was also an all-star on the bronze medal team in 2024.
In the 13 previous gold medal games between the two nations, the U.S. had a 7-6 edge over Canada.
No more.
"I’m so proud of the group. We had a plan from the beginning and the players stuck together. They played for one another, and this is what happens. We came out victorious. They were amazing," Team Canada head coach Vicky Sunohara said.
"Canada's an excellent team and it's tough to win when you don't get any goals, but I'm proud of our effort and our toughness," American coach Liz Keady Norton said. "The puck didn't bounce our way today."
Scoring has been difficult in the entire tournament. The final was no exception, and maybe it wasn’t a surprise. Before the gold medal game, Team USA had only allowed two goals in five games, while Canada had allowed five goals.
The average score in the teams' previous 22 U18 Women's Worlds encounters was 2.8 – 2.18 – or, say, 3-2 – but today’s game didn’t quite reach the average.
In the first period, both teams made sure not to make any mistakes and let the other one in the driver’s seat. Stickney and Grenier easily warded off any chances that were created.
It took a power play to get the scoring going. Six minutes into the second period, the U.S.'s Madelyn Kimbrel was sent to the penalty box for tripping and Canada’s special teams got to work. Tiller fired a one-timer from the right circle at 8:06. It found its way through Stickney’s five-hole and in a piece of hockey drama worthy of a spot in a James Bond movie, there was 0:07 left in the penalty. Danica Maynard and Sydney Sawyer were credited with assists.
Canada outshot the U.S. 20-12 in the first two periods, and Stickney had to make several high-quality saves to keep the Americans in the game.
"We were a little nervous in the beginning, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Obviously, it wasn't the result we wanted," Team USA captain Bella Fanale said. "We knew it was going to be fast and physical, and we gave them a game, even though it didn't go our way."
The third period was a constant battle from beginning to end, but with few scoring chances. Both teams also managed to neutralize the opposition stars.
At 10.47, the Canadians doubled their lead. Sawyer shot the puck from the blue line, and Stickney turned away Alex Therien’s deflection, but the puck bounced to Dorothy Copetti. She fired it back toward the net, where it hit an American defender’s skate and surprised Stickney.
The U.S. pulled Stickney in an effort to tie the game but instead, Zablocki added an empty-netter with 1:37 left to round out the scoring at 3-0.
"They were just focused. They kept it simple. They did the small details, and they held each other accountable. They just wanted to play honest hockey and that’s what they did. We had so many skilled players, but they played together and for each other," Sunohara said.
"The tournament is absolutely getting more competitive. We knew every game would be a challenge and we approached it like that. The semi-final between Sweden and the US was a close game as well. The teams are getting very good, and we need to keep raising the bar higher for ourselves and our team did that this week," she added.
Cue Queen's "We Are The Champions."
United States vs Canada - GMG - 2025 IIHF u18 Women's World Championship
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