Canada Wins 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship

Brianne Jenner (Cornell) scored two goals less than two minutes apart in the second period, and Ann-Renee Desbiens (Wisconsin) made 20 saves in all, including several in-close in the final minute of play, to lift Canada to a 2-1 victory over the United States on Sunday in the gold medal game of the 2022 IIHF Women's World Championship in Denmark.

Abby Roque (Wisconsin) tallied the only goal on the afternoon for Team USA in the final period to cut the deficit to one, which was as close as the the U.S. would get. Nicole Hensley (Lindenwood) stopped 17 shots in net for the Americans, who lost for the first time in the tournament. The U.S. had defeated Canada, 5-2, in round-robin play back on Aug. 30.

It is the first time in 18 years that Canada has won back-to-back Women's World Championships. The win also marked the third gold medal won by the Canadians in just over a year's time, with two World Championships and one Olympic title, all backstopped by Desbiens.

U.S. Claims Bronze at 2018 World Championship

The United States earned its second bronze medal in four years at the IIHF World Championship with a 4-1 victory over Canada on Sunday in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Chris Kreider (Boston College) of the New York Rangers scored two goals for the Americans, including the game-opening goal in the second period, while Nick Bonino (Boston University) of the Nashville Predators tallied the game-winning goal with less than seven minutes remaining in regulation to break a 1-1 tie. Anders Lee (Notre Dame) of the New York Islanders then scored an insurance goal into an empty Canadian net for the U.S., followed by one from Kreider.

Keith Kincaid (Union) of the New Jersey Devils made 24 stops to garner the victory for Team USA, which earned bronze for the third time in the last six World Championships, and for the eighth time overall.

Sweden, which defeated Canada in a shootout in last year's World Championship gold medal game in Germany, won it all again today in a shootout. The Swedes bested Switzerland this time, by a 3-2 count, to claim their second straight World Championship title, and 11th overall.

Next year's tournament will be held in May 2019 in Slovakia.

Sweden, Switzerland to Play for IIHF Gold in Denmark

It'll be Switzerland against defending champion Sweden on Sunday for the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark.

In Saturday's semifinals, Switzerland edged Canada, 3-2, while Sweden blitzed the United States, 6-0, despite 41 shots on goal by the Americans. Colton Paryako (Alaska Fairbanks) of the St. Louis Blues scored Canada's second goal, late in the third period. Keith Kinkaid (Union) of the New Jersey Devils took the loss for the U.S., making 14 saves as Sweden also scored two empty-net goals.

In the quarterfinal round, Sweden edged Latvia, Canada outlasted Russia, Switzerland upset Finland, and the U.S. topped the Czech Republic, all one-goal decisions.

The U.S. and Canada will play for the bronze medal tomorrow afternoon before Sweden and Switzerland meet for gold.

U.S. Wins First Two at World Championship

The United States is off to a good start at the 2018 IIHF World Championship in Denmark, winning its first two games in Group “B” round-robin play.

The Americans opened the tournament on Friday by besting rival Canada, 5-4, in a shootout. Cam Atkinson (Boston College) of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets scored twice in the extra session, including the deciding shootout goal.

Dylan Larkin (Michigan) of the Detroit Red Wings recorded two goals in regulation for the U.S. against the Canadians, with Chris Kreider (Boston College) of the New York Rangers setting up both of Larkin’s tallies. Anders Lee (Notre Dame) of the New York Islanders and Johnny Gaudreau (Boston College) of the Calgary Flames also scored for Team USA in regulation. Keith Kinkaid (Union) of the New Jersey Devils stopped 40 shots in net, and then made five saves on six shootout attempts for the win. Colton Parayko (Alaska Fairbanks) of the St. Louis Blues scored for Canada in regulation.

The U.S. then blanked host Denmark, 4-0, on Saturday. Will Butcher (Denver) of the New Jersey Devils collected the game-winning goal in the first period, before Kreider and Atkinson connected in the second stanza. Nick Jensen (St. Cloud State) of the Detroit Red Wings then closed out the scoring in the third period, and also joined Kreider and Gaudreau in recording an assist on the day. Kinkaid finished with 20 stops for the shutout.

Team USA will face Germany on Monday in its next outing, before taking on Latvia on May 10 and Korea on May 11.