U18WWC Recap: Canada 2, Finland 1

Madison Chantler scored the game-winner in the third period to send Canada to the gold medal game.

GAME STATISTICS | LIVE BLOG

MADISON, Wisconsin – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team punched its ticket to the gold medal game at the 2022 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, downing Finland 2-1 in the semifinals on Sunday.

• Jade Iginla (Lake Country, B.C./RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) opened the scoring with her first international goal 15:04 into the game.
• Madison Chantler (London, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite) scored midway through the third period to give Canada a late lead.
• Alexia Aubin (Lévis, Que./Stanstead College, JWHL), Mckenna Van Gelder (Etobicoke, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) and Karel Préfontaine (Gatineau, Que./Stanstead College, JWHL) chipped in with one assist each.
• Mari Pietersen (Goodwood, Ont./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) made nine saves.
• Canada outshot Finland 45-10.

Following the game, Jocelyn Amos (Ailsa Craig, Ont./London, OWHA U22 Elite), Sarah MacEachern (Cornwall, P.E.I./Etobicoke, OWHA U22 Elite) and Sara Swiderski (Langley, B.C./RHA Kelowna, CSSHL) were named Team Canada’s three best players of the tournament.

Next Game:
Canada vs. United States or Sweden (gold medal game) – Monday, June 13 (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT)

TSN and RDS, the official broadcast partners of Hockey Canada, will broadcast the bronze and gold medal games; check local listings for details.

Quotes:
“It has been an extraordinary experience for [the team] off the ice, and we have a very tight-knit group. It has taken a little longer than we might have expected, but we are starting to come together as a team on the ice. I think we are getting better every game and hopefully tomorrow will be our best game of the tournament, which is what we were shooting for.”

-         Head coach Howie Draper (Edmonton, Alta./University of Alberta, CW) on his team’s progression through the tournament

“[My goal] started in the defensive zone. We had a good breakout pass to get going and my linemates worked hard in the corner to get me the puck. It feels great [to advance to the gold medal game]. We worked through our adversity and now we are all here as a group for a shot at a gold medal.”

-         Iginla on scoring her first international goal and playing for a gold medal

“We had good defensive zone coverage and then [Karel Préfontaine] popped [the puck] over to me off the boards and I took the chance to drive by their defence, take a shot and it went in. I am so proud of this team. We would not have been able to [get to the gold medal game] if we did not all work together. The energy is pretty high in the locker room.”

-         Chantler on putting her team ahead in the third and earning a spot in the gold medal game

For more information on Hockey Canada and Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team, please visit HockeyCanada.ca, or follow along through social media on on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.