Canada wins gold at 2023 U-18 women’s World Hockey Championship

Canada has won gold at the 2023 U-18 women’s World Hockey Championship, beating the hosts from Sweden 10-0.

The win is Canada’s seventh in 15 years, putting them one behind the United States for the all-time record. The two teams have combined for every championship, with Canada winning three of the past four titles.

Sweden’s silver is their second in tournament history after taking the second in 2018. Sweden is the most successful bronze-medal winner in tournament history with six third-place finishes.

USA won bronze earlier in the day after beating Finland 5-0.

A five-goal first period – led by a hat-trick for Caitlin Kraemer – dictated the pace of the game. Kraemer scored the first two goals less than 30 seconds apart before Alexia Aubin made it 3-0. Piper Grober’s goal at 10:01 made it 4-0, and Kraemer capped it off with her third of the game at 12:00 – a period that saw Canada outshoot Sweden 14-3.

Aubin opened the second with a goal at 3:54 to make it 6-0, giving Canada one of its biggest leads of the tournament. Abby Lunney and Mackenzie Alexander scored their first goals of the game before the halfway mark of the second period to make it an 8-0 contest.

Charlotte Pieckenhagen scored her first goal of the tournament to open up the third period. Kraemer’s 10th of the tournament near the halfway mark of the third then made it 10-0, with the goal tying her for second behind Hayley Skarupa for the all-time goals lead.

14-year-old Slovakian sensation Nela Lopusanova led the scoring race with nine goals and 12 points. Kraemer finished with the most goals with 10, with her 11 points putting her second.