Sign in Subscribe

2022 Worlds: Canada Wins Gold, Defeats USA 2-1

USA took the first game but Canada won where it counted, sweeping gold for the season.

Here we are again for another chapter of the greatest rivalry on ice, the United States took on Canada for the gold medal in the 2022 Women’s World Championship. After Canada took gold in the Olympics earlier this year and at last year’s world championship, USA came out with a vengeance and won the first round meeting against Canada, 5-2.

Canada winning would mean the first time they won back to back world championships for the first time in 18 years, and become the first team to ever sweep gold at the U18 Worlds, the Olympics, and Women’s Worlds in one year. No pressure.

We all know, when the gold hardware is on the line, anything can happen, but Canada was able to put the game away after two quick goals by Brianne Jenner in the second period and just one in return for USA.

1st Period

The first period was relatively quiet as they usually go, both teams opting to save the fireworks and real intensity for later in the game...maybe just to drive us all crazy, who knows.

Abby Roque took a penalty for an illegal hit to Sarah Nurse almost halfway through the period, but the Americans were able to kill the penalty. Both teams got a few good chances, and USA took another penalty, this time boarding for Hayley Scamurra. Ultimately, not one goal was scored in the first period, but tensions certainly rose.

2nd Period

CAN: Brianna Jenner - Marie-Philip Poulin & Ella Shelton  - 29:30

All was quiet, Nicole Hensley still standing strong as Canada began to run away with the shots but it wasn’t until Brianne Jenner was able to shoot fast, catching Hensley off guard and finally getting the puck across the line.

This was Jenner’s fourth point of the tournament, but notably, her 100th point as a member of this national team.

CAN: Brianna Jenner - Sarah Fillier & Sarah Nurse PPG - 30:54

Hannah Brandt took a boarding call and almost immediately after her first goal, Brianne Jenner went back to the same exact spot she scored her first one and scored again with the help of a pair of Sarahs.

The Americans finally got a power play opportunity on a slashing call on Sarah Fillier but Canada was able to kill it off effectively. Hensley made a few great saves to keep the score close before Brandt was able to draw a penalty from Jenner to close out the second period.

USA: Abby Roque - Amanda Kessel & Kendall Coyne-Schofield PPG - 39:39

With less than a minute to go in the period, as Canada tried to kill the penalty, Amanda Kessel had an amazing heads-up pass over to Roque who had a backdoor opening and got the United States on the board.

With a secondary assist on this goal, captain Kendall Coyne-Schofield officially passed Brianna Decker in all-time USA assists, a record that Decker set last year at Worlds.

3rd Period

USA looked to ride their momentum into the third period, catching up in shots on goal quickly. This is when the game turned into the amazing goalie battle that we are used to, back and forth chances with huge saves in the crease by both Hensley and Desbiens.

As time ticked down, USA got their closest opportunity on a power play due to a tripping call on Canadian goalie, Desbiens. They came so close but could not do anything with their time. Right after, Savannah Harmon took a penalty for tripping, giving the Canadians a chance on the power play.

The United States pulled Nicole Hensley with just about three minutes to go in the third period, opting for six skaters instead, but in the end it did not make a difference. The clock expired and once again, it was black and red gloves being thrown in the air to celebrate another gold medal.

This is Team Canada’s 12th gold medal at the World Championships, and they leave USA still searching for their 10th after back to back wins over the team.

Read next

Comments ()