Canada 3, USA 0

After two years of surprise semifinals upsets - first Sweden over the US in 2023, then Czechia over Canada in 2024 - these two North American rivals were back to facing off with the gold medal on the line. This was the 14th time (of 17 total U18 Women's World Championships) that USA and Canada have played for gold and with Canada's win on Sunday, the series is tied at seven wins apiece. It is Canada's 8th gold medal at this level.

Whatever I unconsciously expected from this gold medal game, this was not it. The two most prolific offenses in the tournament found goals to be at a premium. Neither team was particularly good at puck possession or holding the zone and the game turned into a not very pretty back and forth defensive struggle where teams might be able to stay onsides and get into the zone, but were rarely able to muster much offense when they got there.

The teams played tentatively, particularly in the first with each player not wanting to be responsible for a mistake or turnover. But Canada's goal before the midpoint of the game seemed to loosen things up for them and in the second and third periods, Canada outshot the US 24-7. No matter what they tried to do, USA could not generate offense or get set up in the offensive zone. They were stuck with trying stretch passes, often resorting to dumping the puck in order to facilitate a line change.

The longer the lead lasted, the more confident Canada grew and with that self-assured play came a ridiculous bounce off a USA skate that deflected into the net to make it 2-0. Dorothy Copetti was credited with the goal, which also signaled the end of a long run by the US. It was the first equal strength goal the US had given up since the 2023 tournament, a streak that lasted 846:01 - or more than 14 hours of game play.

The US tried to push back, but ran low on opportunities and Canada closed out the win with an empty-netter from Zablocki that came immediately after the Americans pulled their goalie to make it 3-0.

Marilou Grenier finished out a solid tournament in net for Canada. She had to make just 14 saves as her defense kept the US from her net. She helped Canada complete a perfect tournament, earing her fourth win. She finished the tournament with a 1.00 goals-against average and .935 save percentage, along with two shutouts.

All in all, it was one of the more boring USA vs. Canada games at any level of women's hockey. I could appreciate the very good defense being played by both teams and I'm enough of a hockey nerd to enjoy a good stick lift as much as pretty puck handling, but it seemed the Americans had the same grind it out, wear down the opponent approach they used in the semifinals and I'm not sure that was the right play against Canada.

What We Learned:

• Laser focus – Hockey Canada did not take kindly to their historic loss to Czechia in the 2024 semifinals and finishing with the bronze. It feels like every move and choice that has been made for this group since then has been with that thought in mind. And while on the one hand I understand that, I also think they leaned very hard into their old school, staid approach. It was effective, so who am I to question it, I suppose. But there's something a little unsettling in the repetitive and almost robotic responses that every single Canadian - including coach Vicky Sunohara - had to post-game questions. Someone somewhere decided this was the way things were going to be done and everyone is expected to fall in line. It got their desired result and maybe I'm the next one who'll fall in line, but for now I'm left wondering if the ends justify the means and a loss of creativity is worth it.
• Age before ... - Just like at the senior women's level, there are two very different philosophies and approaches on roster building on display between the US and Canada at this tournament. The Americans brough five 2009-born players and overall had 14 players who are 15 or 16 years old. Canada has nine players born in 2008, though five of them will be 17 before February has passed. They also brought back 2024 MVP Chloe Primerano, who already enrolled in college at the University of Minnesota this year. There were just five players on this roster from the 2024 bronze medal-winning squad. This team was something of a reset and it features a roster of players who are - relatively - older, stronger, more mature and more experienced. And it all paid off. In the wake of losing, the US is talking about the invaluable experience this group of players will have and how much they'll bring to the table when they come back for one or two more tournaments. Everybody comes into this tournament with the goal of winning, but only Canada put together a roster that ensured they took every advantage they could have at this age group and made sure they didn't miss out on the gold medal game again.
• Congrats Chloe - Chloe Primerano's 26 points (12g, 14a) across two U18 Women’s Worlds tournaments tied Marie-Philip Poulin for the most by a Canadian at the tournament. In Saturday’s semifinal win over Czechia, she surpassed Caitlin Kraemer as the all-time leading scorer with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team. Primerano finished her U18 career with 37 points (18g, 19a) in 21 games.

Standout Performances:

• USA D Emilia Biotti – Several times Canada broke through and looked to be in on net before they were bodied off the puck or poke checked or generally interrupted and when I focused on who was making the defensive play, it was Biotti. She's 5'10" and you notice when she can use her long stride to eat up some ice on the backcheck or use her reach to lift a stick or nab a puck. She stood out to me a few other times this tournament, but as a stay-at-home defender, it's probably best when I don't really notice her. It's kind of like with refs. If she's doing her job well, you probably won't even notice her. But in this defensive battle, she really stood out for making simple, effective plays that limited the Canadian attack.
• Canada F Calleigh Tiller – I feel like if I told people that Tiller had the same score line as Primerano this tournament, no one would believe it, especially if I pointed out that her four goals and six assists came on less than half as many shots and an average of eight fewer minutes on ice per game. Tiller scored two game-winning goals and was tied with Primerano and Maxine Cimoroni for most points on Canada. She didn't get near the same recognition, but she put together a heck of a tournament. The UConn commit's power play goal on Sunday was huge in both bolstering her team and deflating the Americans. She was a catalyst for this team, not afraid to put the puck on net, and held her own among some very talented, high-profile players. That goal was a big turning point - with offense so hard to come by, even just the one goal felt impossible for the US to be able to respond to, much less top.

Quotable:

"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." - Canada captain Chloe Primerano

"Best feeling in the world. Last year wasn't a great result. We knew we were going to come back this year even stronger and we played super well as a team." - Primerano

"Getting the opportunity to represent your country is something you can't so no to. I'm always going to come and play for Team Canada any chance I get." - Primerano

"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." - Canada coach Vicky Sunohara

"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

"We spoke about taking care of our end first and a lot of the habits that have been important to use since we started the tournament - taking care of our blue lines, our net fronts - and I felt like they did that." - Sunohara

"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. There's no other group I'd rather have done it with." - USA coach Liz Keady Norton

"For us, we have to have a shooter mentality and when you're down one, you have to lean in to that a little bit more. They're a really capable group, but it's why you play the game. The puck didn't bounce our way today." - Norton

"I just think we were a little nervous in the beginning. I'm proud of the group. Obviously it wasn't the outcome we wanted, but we'll learn from it." - USA captain Bella Fanale

"You want to play in games like this. We knew it was going to be fast, we knew it was going to be physical. These are the best games to play in. We gave them a game, it just didn't go our way." - Fanale

"I'm going to miss it a lot. Part of my sadness is I'm going to miss this tournament so much. It sucks that we couldn't win my last year, but I know the next group is going to do it." - Fanale

"There's nothing like representing your country and putting on the USA jersey and you never know when you're going to get to put it on again. The intensity and the fun of it. You prepare yourself the whole year just to perform in this tournament and try and bring home the gold medal." - Fanale

Tournament Awards

• Tournament MVP
  Nela Lopušanová - first player to be voted MVP at two U18 World Championships
  
• Media All-Star Team
  Goaltender: Morgan Stickney (USA)
  Defender: Chloe Primerano (CAN)
  Defender: Megan Healy (USA)
  Forward: Nela Lopušanová (SVK)
  Forward: Stryker Zablocki (CAN)
  Forward: Bella Fanale (USA)
• Directorate awards
  Best goalie: Daniela Nováková (CZE)
  Best defender: Chloe Primerano (CAN)
  Best forward: Bella Fanale (USA)