UTICA – The United States vs. Canada was the highest point in pool play at the International Ice Hockey Federation Women's World Championship. It seems appropriate to play that matchup again and decide on the gold medal, as has happened many times before.
Canada shut out the Czech Republic 4-0 in the second semifinal at the Adirondack Bank Center on Saturday, setting up the 2023 title game and a rematch of the 2021 and 2022 finals along with 18 other teams. finished. Defending champions USA had defeated Finland 5-0 earlier in the day.
more: U.S. women's hockey advances to gold medal game: 'It's going to be great'
Canada, which has lost just once in overtime in this year's tournament, had Anne-Rene Desbiens make just nine saves to blank the Czech Republic for the second time, recording the third shutout for a team that had conceded three goals in three games.
“Monday was probably the fastest game I've ever played,” Jocelyn Larocque said of Canada's 1-0 overtime loss to the United States, adding, “We need a better start.” .
The Canadians got off to a better start Saturday. Breia Turnbull scored Canada's first goal four and a half minutes into the game on assists from Laura Stacey and Larocque, and Larocque added another goal late in the first period on assists from Stacey and Emily Clark.
Clark scored in the second period and Sarah Fillier scored in the third. Natalie Spooner and Renata Fast contributed assists.
Larocque, Clarke and Turnbull all scored their first goals of the tournament. Fifteen players scored for Canada at the tournament, with Fast scoring three goals.
This loss forced the Czech Republic to compete in the bronze medal match against Finland, which they won 4-0 on the first day of the tournament. Finland has won 13 bronze medals, the most of any participating country, while the Czech Republic is competing in the world championships for the ninth time and has won bronze medals in the past two years.
“We're getting better with each tournament,” said Czech goalkeeper Klara Peslarova, who made 43 saves on Saturday and won a bronze medal with her team in 2022. . ”
This article originally appeared in the Times-Telegram: Canada advances to IIHF Women's World Championship title game
