Women prepare to hit ice for semis
Rested bodies, but prepared minds, was the goal for the Canadian women's hockey team Friday.
The Canadians stayed off the ice, but engaged in intensive boardroom chalk talks ahead of Saturday's world championship semifinal against Czechia in Utica, N.Y., as well as a Sunday game they want to be in for the gold medal.
“You always have gold-medal day in mind,” Canada's head coach Troy Ryan said. “It's always a juggling match between what's best for you today and tomorrow and how does it impact or potentially impact your gold medal?”
Defending champion United States meets Finland in Saturday afternoon's semifinal followed by Canada versus 2022 and 2023 bronze medallist Czechia in the evening.
With the medal games Sunday, Canada will end the tournament the way it began, which is playing back-to-back games in less than 24 hours.
The Canadians will also play two games in as many days for a third time in the tournament. Friday was their fourth no-skate day since the 12-day tournament began.
Instead of a team meeting, coaches met with forward lines and defensive pairings separately for more detailed breakdowns.
Canada has outscored its opposition 17-3, but a 1-0 overtime loss to the U.S., and giving up 30 shots to them, to cap the preliminary round indicated more is needed when pushed to the limit by the defending champs.
The Canadians ranked second to the U.S. in shots on net, but the Americans' scoring efficiency was 11.5 per cent to Canada's 8.81. Canada's power play ranked second-last among the 10 countries at 1-for-14.
“We have lots to work on still and we know we have better in us,” Canadian forward Laura Stacey said.
The line of Marie-Philip Poulin, 2023 tournament MVP Sarah Fillier and 2022 Olympic tournament MVP Brianne Jenner has yet to really hit its stride with a combined two goals in five games.
Poulin missed three PWHL Montreal games with an undisclosed injury before the international break.
Ottawa's Rachel Homan locked up top spot in the women's standings and a berth in the semifinals at the Grand Slam of Curling Players' Championship with a 6-5 win over Japan's Satsuki Fujisawa in Friday's second draw.
Homan finished the round robin at the season-ending tournament a perfect 5-0, but needed an extra end to beat Fujisawa (1-4).
The Japanese skip entered the match already eliminated from playoff contention, but gave the reigning women's world champion a tough match.
In Friday's earlier draw, Winnipeg's Mike McEwen (4-0) remained the lone unbeaten team in the men's competition with an 8-3 win over Scotland's James Craik (1-3). The win assured McEwen of a toptwo finish in the standings and a bye to the semifinals.