Canada delivered a dominant performance on Saturday, overwhelming Finland 8-1 in the women’s ice hockey world championship semifinal to earn yet another finals showdown against long-standing rival, the United States.
In a stunning offensive burst, Canada scored four goals in under two minutes. Daryl Watts found the net twice, while Claire Thompson added a goal and two assists. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Sarah Nurse, and Danielle Serdachny each had a goal and an assist. Erin Ambrose and Emily Clark also added goals, and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens stopped 19 shots.
With her two-point night, Poulin passed Hayley Wickenheiser to become Canada’s all-time leading scorer at the women’s world championships, now sitting at 88 points.
“It hasn’t really sunk in,” Poulin said afterward. “I wouldn’t be here without my teammates, past and present. I started with this team when I was 18, alongside players like Wickenheiser and Ouellette—my idols. They inspired me to love the game even more. And now, this group keeps that love going. I feel lucky every day I get to wear this jersey.”
Poulin currently leads all scorers in the tournament with 11 points, including four goals and seven assists.
This year’s final will mark the 23rd time in 24 tournaments that Canada and the U.S. have faced off for gold. Canada has claimed 13 of those titles, while the Americans—who have never missed a world final—have won 10.
Finland opened the scoring just 46 seconds into the semifinal after a Canadian defensive error led to a goal by Michelle Karvinen. But Canada responded less than two minutes later, and from there, took complete control. Ambrose netted the equalizer and Canada never looked back.
Earlier in the day, the United States battled past the Czech Republic 2-1 in a tense semifinal. Kelly Pannek scored the game-winner midway through the third period, securing the Americans’ perfect 6-0 record all-time against the Czechs at the world championship, including a 3-0 mark in semifinal matchups.
Laila Edwards also scored for the U.S., while captain Hilary Knight picked up an assist—adding to her all-time tournament record of 52 points. Goalie Aerin Frankel stopped 10 shots in the win.
“I’m proud of how this team fought tonight,” said U.S. head coach John Wroblewski. “The puck didn’t bounce our way early, but the team stayed composed and got it done.”
Pannek, who has earned at least one point in every game of the tournament, leads the U.S. in scoring with four goals. Her game-winner came after she circled behind the Czech net, got off a backhander, and buried the rebound at 8:26 of the final period.
Earlier, in the second period, the Americans pressed hard for the tying goal, outshooting the Czechs 17-2. Edwards delivered the equalizer on the power play with a wrist shot from the left circle at 8:56.
Tereze Plosová had given the Czech Republic a surprising lead late in the first period, igniting the near-capacity crowd of nearly 6,000. Klára Hymlárová stole the puck behind the U.S. goal and fed Plosová, who fired high over Frankel’s shoulder to open the scoring.
The Czech Republic will now face Finland in the bronze medal game—for the fourth consecutive year.