CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic – In a thrilling victory, the U.S. women’s ice hockey team defeated the reigning champions Canada in an intense overtime match. Tessa Janecke secured the winning goal with less than three minutes to go, clinching the United States’ 11th title in the women’s ice hockey world championship.
During the decisive play, Taylor Heise intercepted a pass from Canadian defenseman Jocelyne Larocque and assisted Janecke, who scored into the unguarded net to conclude the match 4-3 in the U.S.’s favor. Janecke, ecstatic with her performance, celebrated her third goal of the tournament spiritedly.
“It’s just sweeter, coming back from losing last year and being able to persevere,” said Janecke, reflecting on the victory’s significance.
This was a tough moment for Larocque, who achieved a career milestone by playing her 200th game for Canada. In the game, Abbey Murphy and Heise both scored, each with an assist, and Caroline Harvey also contributed to the scoring effort for the United States.
U.S. goalie Gwyneth Philips expressed her elation, stating, “Shock and awe. I’m ecstatic,” following the dramatic match.
This installment of the U.S.-Canada rivalry was as exciting as ever, reminiscent of Canada’s 6-5 overtime win against the U.S. at last year’s event in Utica, N.Y. Although the Canadians lead the all-time medal tally with 13 golds, the American squad has consistently proven to be formidable competitors, triumphing again in 2023 in Canada.
The U.S. ended the preliminary stage of the championship undefeated, besting Canada 2-1, and subsequently eliminating Germany and the Czech Republic to reach the finals. This victory further cements their dominance as they prepare for the upcoming Milan Winter Olympics.
Canada’s Danielle Serdachny, Jennifer Gardiner, and Sarah Fillier contributed goals in the tense championship match, outshooting the U.S. 47-30. Aurora of key achievements, U.S. captain Hilary Knight notched her record 10th gold medal, increasing her world championship scoring record to 53 assists and 120 points in the process.
“I think this is a watershed moment for women’s hockey, and it’s really exciting to be a part of,” said Knight, as she reflected on what this win means for the sport.
Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin maintained her dominance, achieving tournament MVP status and topping the scoring leaderboard with 12 points, surpassing Hayley Wickenheiser’s longstanding records in the process.
In the pulsating finals with their archrivals, Fillier leveled the game for Canada with less than six minutes left, forcing the match into overtime. Earlier, Heise restored the Americans’ lead with a crisp 5-on-3 power-play wrist shot.
U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel had notable early performance with 27 saves, only to be substituted by Philips after an unfortunate collision early in the third period. Philips held strong, making 17 saves. His teammate, coach John Wroblewski, praised their collective resilience, labeling the win a team effort.
Canadian coach Troy Ryan acknowledged the competitiveness of the match, indicating that both teams had opportunities to secure victory multiple times.
During the second period, the U.S. surged to a lead with two quick goals thanks to Harvey and Murphy, only to have Canada rapidly equalize with efforts from Serdachny and Gardiner in quick succession.
This tournament marked the first time the Women’s World Championship was held in the Czech Republic, drawing a record-breaking 122,331 spectators, solidifying women’s ice hockey’s growing popularity.