Canada led for the majority of the game, but a hat trick from Hilary Knight turned the tide and gave the U.S. a 6-3 win in the IIHF World Women’s Hockey Championship final.
The United States was unable to defend its title and make it three in a row. Canada defeated the Americans 2-1 in 2022, a year after being crowned with a 3-2 overtime win in 2021.
The Americans came from behind a third time in the game thanks to the tournament’s leading scorer, defenseman Caroline Harvey, making it 3-3 at 5:40 of the third period. She increased her goal total to 4 and also had 10 assists.
It all came crashing down in the final three minutes of play for Canada as two of their players were sent to the dungeon; Brianne Jenner was penalized for tripping, then Claire Thompson sent the puck into the stands. Knight took advantage and scored at the very end of a five-on-three to earn her 100th career World Championship point before completing the hat trick at five-on-four by redirecting a shot from the point. Cayla Barnes put the finishing touches on an empty net.
For the 21st time in history – in 22 tournament appearances – the two teams met in the Grand Final.
The Americans shot themselves in the foot by giving their great rivals a five-on-three early in the game. And who better than captain Marie-Philip Poulin to make them pay for their indiscipline at the first opportunity with a precise shot on a feed from Erin Ambrose.
However, Abbey Murphy tied the game after getting around Ambrose in the defensive end and firing a wrist shot past Ann-Renée Desbiens with 1:59 left in the first period.
The Canadians threatened in offensive territory when they came out of the locker room and Brianne Jenner had the final say to put Canada back ahead 2-1 on a slapshot into the top corner.
After Hilary Knight’s equalizer, which caught Desbiens off guard as she leapt over her shoulder, Jenner came back with her third of the tournament. She also scored two goals in last year’s final.
The Canadians were looking for their 13th title in history, while the U.S. was trying to win the tournament for the first time since 2019. This is the 10th conquest in their history.
In the semifinals, Canada got the better of Switzerland 5-1, while the U.S. edged the Czech Republic 9-1.
Earlier in the tournament, in the group stage, Canada defeated the United States 4-3 in a shootout. However, Troy Ryan’s team made it difficult for themselves by giving up a two-goal lead in the final 40 seconds of the third period. Jamie Lee Rattray saved the game in the shootout.
This is the first time since 2015 that a final between Canada and the United States has ended by more than one goal (7-5). Only one final has been played involving a team other than these two rivals during that time (2019).
