Canada defeats U.S. to capture gold at women's hockey worlds

Canada had to find a different way to win a women's world hockey title after its Olympic triumph earlier this year and world championship gold a year ago.

This edition was a work in progress throughout the tournament in Denmark, but Canada played its best game of the tournament in Sunday's 2-1 win over archrival U.S. in the final.

The Canadian women won their third major international title in the span of a year after beating the U.S. 3-2 for Olympic gold in February in Beijing, and 3-2 in overtime in the 2021 world championship final just over a year ago.

"It wasn't smooth. It looked a lot different from our Olympic win and our last world championship win, but I think we're really reassured when things aren't as smooth we can find different ways to win," Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said. "We battled it out and got the job done."

WATCH | Jenner leads Canada past U.S. for world title:

Canada edges United States for world championship gold medal

2 years ago

Duration 2:39

Oakville, Ont.'s Brianne Jenner scored both of Canada's goals en route to a 2-1 victory over their international rivals in the tournament final.

After a quiet tournament in the scoring department, Jenner scored two second-period goals within a minute of each other Sunday.

Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was the calm eye of the storm in the third as the U.S. pushed furiously for an equalizer.

The Canadians were outshot 12-6 in the third period, but they blocked shots with abandon over the final two minutes when the U.S. pulled Nicole Hensley for an extra attacker.

Desbiens made 20 saves for the win, while Hensley stopped 17 shots.

"I think coming into this tournament, we had the confidence that we were the best team in the world," Canadian forward Sarah Nurse said.

"We really wanted to show that. Winning three gold medals in one year is so special and something I don't know we'll ever be able to do again, but it just shows how hard our program has worked, where we are today."

It's Canada's 12th gold medal at the tournament and the first time in 18 years it has won back-to-back world titles.

Finding their form

Canada lost 5-2 in the preliminary round to a U.S. team that appeared ready to reclaim women's hockey supremacy.

The Americans seemed to absorb what lineup changes there were quicker than the Canadians, who were juggling forward line combinations throughout the tournament in an effort to find chemistry.

Canada's execution in an 8-1 semifinal win over the Swiss indicated the defending champions were finding their form.

But the U.S. went undefeated into the final with a plus-47 goal differential compared to Canada's plus-22, whereas Canada had boasted the high-octane offence in Beijing.

"What we were able to accomplish at the Olympics was extremely special," Jenner said. "To come in six months after an Olympics, to be able to have a summer of training and get the focus back and try to defend a world title is not easy.

"I think this was one of the toughest ones and we're feeling pretty good we found a way to get it done.'

In addition to moving the puck quicker and cleaner than it did in the loss to the U.S., Canada also defended more tenaciously in the box between and below the faceoff dots.

Canada's power play went 0-for-2 in the first period before Jenner converted a third chance in the second. The U.S. went 1-for-3 with a man advantage over the back half of the game.

U.S. forward Abby Roque, who scored her team-leading fourth power-play goal of the tournament with less than a minute to play in the second period, accused the Canadians of diving.

"I think they have lots of players who dive around," Roque said. "I think it's ridiculous. It's not the way to play hockey. We play a tough, disciplined game. That's how we are.

"We want to play physical like hockey should be and they've got a lot of players who jump into the boards."

Roque was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, but she is also a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation, near Sudbury, Ont.

Canada and the U.S. have met in the final of all but one world championship since the inaugural tournament in Ottawa in 1990.

The U.S. won five straight world titles, as well as Olympic gold in 2018, before Canada's women heaved hard over the last year on the rope in the tug of war that's been their rivalry.

"We've got to find a way to flip the script," U.S. captain Kendall Coyne Schofield said.

Jenner's nine goals in Beijing matched an Olympic tournament record, but the veteran didn't score in the world championship until Saturday's semifinal.

"I think my shot percentage was not great earlier in the tournament, but I just kept telling myself if you're creating chances and have good habits and do something positive when you're out there, when you work hard sometimes you're rewarded in the end," she said.

The 2021 world championship was delayed to August because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Ice Hockey Federation introducing a top-tier women's championship in the same year as the Olympic Games for the first time compressed three major tournaments into just over 12 months.

"Not normal," said Canadian head coach Troy Ryan, who will coach the Canadian women through to the 2026 Olympic Games.

"I don't think you usually get three times to peak. It can be exhausting. I feel for this group. They found grit. They're exhausted without a doubt. You can see it emotionally. They're drained trying to get up to their top level three times. They deserve so much credit for just sticking with it."

The 10-country field in Denmark was minus Russia after it was barred by the IIHF from international tournaments for that country's invasion of Ukraine.

The Czech Republic reached the final four and the podium for the first time Sunday beating Switzerland 4-2 for the bronze medal. The Czechs were coached in Denmark by Calgary's Carla Macleod, a former Canadian team defender.

WATCH | Canada beats Switzerland in semifinals:

Canada punches ticket to world championship gold medal game

2 years ago

Duration 1:02

The Canadians routed Switzerland 8-1 to advance to the gold medal game against the United States at the IIHF women's world championship in Denmark.