2019-20 National Women's Under-18 Team

CANADA EDGES U.S. IN U18 SERIES OPENER

JASON LA ROSE

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Aly McLeod (Stratford, Ont./Cambridge, PWHL) scored twice and Anne Cherkowski (Vernon, B.C./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) set up three goals to help Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a 5-4 win over the United States on Wednesday in the first of three games between the North American rivals.

It’s the first time since 2016 the Canadians have won the opener of the annual summer series. Canada improved to 26-25 all-time against the U.S. with the win, dating back to 2007.

McLeod and Cherkowski were the only multi-point scorers for the Canadians, who got points from 10 different and 20 saves from goaltender Kayle Osborne (Rideau Lakes, Ont./Ottawa, PWHL).

The U.S. was first on the board, capitalizing on an early power play when Kathryn Davis spun in the slot and got a backhand past Osborne at the three-minute mark.

Tamara Giaquinto (Toronto, Ont./Etobicoke, PWHL) got Canada even on a man-advantage of its own, jumping in off the blue-line to bury a cross-crease feed from Cherkowski. Less than three minutes later, Sarah Thompson (Ottawa, Ont./Nepean, PWHL) went upstairs with a backhand on the breakaway after jumping onto the ice on a delayed U.S. penalty to put the Canadians ahead.

Kiara Zanon tied it for the U.S. with a quick shot past the glove of Osborne, but Sarah Wozniewicz (Cochrane, Alta./Edge School, CSSHL) beat U.S. netminder Skylar Vetter with a pretty redirect in the high slot for another power-play goal and a 3-2 Canadian lead after a busy opening 20 minutes.

The frenetic pace slowed in the second period, with the teams trading goals late in the frame.

McLeod finished a two-on-one with Cherkowski to put Canada up 4-2, but a power-play goal from Danielle Burgen made it a one-goal game again heading to the intermission.

The second of the game from McLeod – and the eventual game-winner – came on a harmless-looking backhand that found its way through Vetter just past the seven-minute mark of the third period.

Peyton Hemp beat Osborne with just 1:18 to go and Vetter on the bench to get the Americans back within one, but the Canadians would see out the victory.

Shots on goal finished even at 24-24.

The teams are back on the ice Thursday (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT) for the middle contest in the series before it wraps up Saturday (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT).