2018-19 National Women's Under-18 Team

CANADA OPENS U18 WORLDS WITH WIN OVER SWEDEN

JESSICA GOWANS

OBIHIRO, Japan – Danielle Serdachny (Edmonton, Alta./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal midway through the second period to lead Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team to a 2-1 victory over Sweden on Saturday in the opening game of the 2019 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

The Canadians hemmed Sweden in its own zone for an extended stretch before Serdachny took the puck from behind the net, walked out to the top of the zone and wired it in through a maze of bodies in front of the net.

Daniella Calabrese (Brooklin, Ont./Durham West, PWHL) had the other Canadian goal, and Stephanie Markowski (Edmonton, Alta./Pursuit of Excellence, CSSHL) chipped in two assists.

Canada opened the scoring midway through the first period when Calabrese finished off a pretty passing play from Maddi Wheeler (Erinsville, Ont./Nepean, PWHL) and Markowski.

The Canadians had chances to extend the lead in the first, including four power-play opportunities, but Swedish netminder Tindra Holm kept the deficit at one after a busy 20 minutes.

Sweden’s lone goal came just a few minutes after Serdachny had doubled the Canadian advantage; goaltender Mahika Sarrazin (Gatineau, Que./Limoilou, CEGEP) made the stop on Ronja Mogren’s initital shot, but the rebound bounced right to Gabriella Johansson in the slot for the 2-1 goal.

Canada kept its foot on the gas in the third period, outshooting Sweden 18-2 to close out the win. It had a 39-10 edge overall.

The Canadians will look to make it two in a row on Monday morning (3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT), taking on the United States in the marquee match-up of the preliminary round.