They are the champions … of the world.
photo: ©️ International Ice Hockey Federation / Andrea Cardin
Nine days can go by in a blink of an eye, but for the young players in the under-18 Women’s World Championship, the memory will last for a lifetime. They’ll remember their teammates, the laughs in the locker room, the wins, the bitter sting of losses, and the cold weather and friendly fans in Finland.
They’ll remember their coaches’ words, and in decades to come when some of them become coaches, they’ll quote them back to their players.
Some of them will remember a goal they scored, and Team Canada goaltender Marilou Grenier will smile thinking back at her shutout in the gold medal game.
“This was my last tournament in the under-18s, and to have a shutout makes all this even more special,” she said, with a big smile on her face, and the gold medal around her neck.
And at the other end of a video call she was in the middle of before meeting the media, there was Grenier’s family in Canada, watching her give gold medal interviews. They will never forget that.
The Canadians will also have gold medals to remind them of the tournament.
“I'm very proud of the team. They played 60 minutes of great hockey, and we knew Marilou was ready to go. She was outstanding,” said Team Canada coach Vicky Sunohara.
But it was all about the team. Everybody was onboard, everybody did everything they could to help the team, said Sunohara.
“Our whole goalie trio was amazing, on and off the ice, they were so supportive, so energetic. They contributed to our pre-game video a couple times just with their energy, and they are a big reason why we're successful,” she said.
For a coach, the gold medal is also a part of a process. In the words of a wise coach: “We win – or we learn”. That seemed to be the sentiment of the under-18 Women’s World Championship gold medal game coaches as well
“It really is about development and it’s so rewarding to have an opportunity to contribute to that, but if they weren't receptive to it, then it would be for naught. The players were amazing, so coachable, and hopefully we could all help a little bit, and add that one percent in their development,” said Sunohara.
“They're like sponges. It’s amazing to see how, for example, our five returners matured over time,” she added.
Canada got the win, but even Team USA coach Liz Keady Norton saw – no pun intended – a silver lining in their tournament.
“It’s a big gap [between losing 0-2 and winning 3-2], but Canada had an excellent team, so all the credit to them. But I’ll also give credit to our kids, they stayed in it, they fought and as a coach that’s all I could ask of them,” she said.
“There are some young talents in our locker room who will have another opportunity, and I hope they remember this. You can’t get this experience, playing for the gold medal, against Canada, anywhere else.”
When Team Canada captain Chloe Primerano summed up the gold medal performance, she also summed up the tournament.
“Everybody played for each other. Nobody cared about individual stats, nobody cared about themselves. It was all for the team,” she said.
They’ll remember their coaches’ words, and in decades to come when some of them become coaches, they’ll quote them back to their players.
Some of them will remember a goal they scored, and Team Canada goaltender Marilou Grenier will smile thinking back at her shutout in the gold medal game.
“This was my last tournament in the under-18s, and to have a shutout makes all this even more special,” she said, with a big smile on her face, and the gold medal around her neck.
And at the other end of a video call she was in the middle of before meeting the media, there was Grenier’s family in Canada, watching her give gold medal interviews. They will never forget that.
The Canadians will also have gold medals to remind them of the tournament.
“I'm very proud of the team. They played 60 minutes of great hockey, and we knew Marilou was ready to go. She was outstanding,” said Team Canada coach Vicky Sunohara.
But it was all about the team. Everybody was onboard, everybody did everything they could to help the team, said Sunohara.
“Our whole goalie trio was amazing, on and off the ice, they were so supportive, so energetic. They contributed to our pre-game video a couple times just with their energy, and they are a big reason why we're successful,” she said.
For a coach, the gold medal is also a part of a process. In the words of a wise coach: “We win – or we learn”. That seemed to be the sentiment of the under-18 Women’s World Championship gold medal game coaches as well
“It really is about development and it’s so rewarding to have an opportunity to contribute to that, but if they weren't receptive to it, then it would be for naught. The players were amazing, so coachable, and hopefully we could all help a little bit, and add that one percent in their development,” said Sunohara.
“They're like sponges. It’s amazing to see how, for example, our five returners matured over time,” she added.
Canada got the win, but even Team USA coach Liz Keady Norton saw – no pun intended – a silver lining in their tournament.
“It’s a big gap [between losing 0-2 and winning 3-2], but Canada had an excellent team, so all the credit to them. But I’ll also give credit to our kids, they stayed in it, they fought and as a coach that’s all I could ask of them,” she said.
“There are some young talents in our locker room who will have another opportunity, and I hope they remember this. You can’t get this experience, playing for the gold medal, against Canada, anywhere else.”
When Team Canada captain Chloe Primerano summed up the gold medal performance, she also summed up the tournament.
“Everybody played for each other. Nobody cared about individual stats, nobody cared about themselves. It was all for the team,” she said.