Canada started strong in the under-18 women’s world hockey championship semifinals by scoring three quick goals in the opening 5:12 minutes against the Czech Republic, ultimately securing an 8-1 victory in Sydney, N.S. Maddie McCullough, Laurie Aubin, and Rachel Piggott found the back of the net early, setting the tone for Canada’s dominant performance. This win secured Canada a spot in the gold-medal match against the United States, who also had a convincing 9-1 victory over Sweden in the other semifinal.
Canadian head coach Vicky Sunohara expressed excitement about the upcoming Canada versus United States final, emphasizing the importance of playing disciplined hockey for the full duration of the game. Adrianna Milani scored twice in the third period, with Sofia Ismael, McCullough, and Piggott also contributing goals to Canada’s win at Centre 200. Notably, Ismael’s three assists in the game brought her total points to a team-leading 15 throughout the tournament.
Although the Czechs managed to score early in the third period through Lucie Sindelarova, cutting the lead to 3-1, Canada maintained control and sealed the victory. Goalkeeper Lea-Rose Charrois made 20 saves to secure her third win of the tournament, with Canada outshooting the Czech Republic 37-21. Post-game honors saw Hayley McDonald, Rosalie Tremblay, and Piggott recognized as Canada’s standout players in the competition. The stage is now set for an exciting Canada-United States gold-medal showdown.