Canada reclaims world title
Ryan sets coaching win record, Turnbull gets an assist
Danielle Serdachny scored on the power play in overtime as Canada edged the United States 6-5 in the championship game of the IIHF World Championship in Utica, N.Y., on Sunday night.
Serdachny pounced on a rebound of an Erin Ambrose shot with only one second remaining in the power play. The Americans were penalized for too many players on the ice at the 3:17 mark of OT.
“It’s pretty special and it’s hard to find the words right now,” said Serdachny in a Hockey Canada news release. “To have my family, my coaches, my friends from Colgate and to see them in the crowd celebrating was so special. Obviously winning a gold medal is incredible, but to have all those people here supporting me is truly so special and one I’ll remember for a long time.”
The Canadians had several outstanding opportunities in the three-on-three extra session.
Canadian captain Mariephilip Poulin broke loose on a breakaway but fired a shot just over the net.
A few seconds later U.S. goalie Aerin Frankel slid across the crease to rob Sarah Fillier.
The championship is the third in four years for the Canadian women, who used last year's 6-3 loss in the final as motivation in 2024.
RECORD WIN FOR TROY RYAN
Canadian head coach Troy Ryan of Spryfield set a world women's championship record with his 25th win, surpassing Ben Smith of the United States.
After the game, Ryan spoke about his team's resiliency in the championship game.
“As a coach you have to be uncomfortable at times. I just stand back there and don’t have to deal with what the players are, like the physicality and the pressure of the game,” said Ryan. “Hats off to (the players) for sticking with it. I know a lot of people talk about the age of our team, but I think that’s when the experience kicks in and the comfortability of playing in those tough games; emotionally, it probably doesn’t impact them as much.”
Poulin had a pair for Canada in regulation time while Ambrose, Julia Gosling and Emily Clark had singles.
Goaltender Ann-renée Desbiens made 19 saves in the win.
Scoring for the United States were Hilary Knight, Caroline Harvey, Megan Keller, Alex Carpenter and Laila Edwards.
WILD THIRD PERIOD
A back-and-forth four-goal third period set up the thrilling overtime.
Caroline Harvey evened the game at 5-5 from the side of the net with 5:02 left in the third period as the U.S. hemmed the Canadians in their zone for a long stretch.
Poulin’s second goal of the game had given Canada a 5-4 lead. Poulin, who hadn’t scored in the tournament after returning from an injury suffered in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, had four cracks at the puck on the doorstep of the American goalie before she chipped it home.
Stellarton’s Blayre Turnbull assisted on Clark’s goal to tie the game at 4-4 at 9:14 of the third.
“The heart was going up and down, it was such an emotional game and surreal to be part of this game,” said Poulin, who was named Canada’s player of the game. “We knew it was going to be exciting and be back and forth. A 6-5 game – it’s been a while since we have seen that back-and-forth type of game. I have so much respect for (the Americans), they work so hard, we work so hard, and we are going for the same goal at the end of the day, and obviously we’re very happy to get back on top.”
The game was a wide-open contest in contrast to the preliminary game won 1-0 in overtime by the Americans.
The 11 goals were the second-highest most in a gold medal game. In 2015, the teams set a record with goals as the U.S. won 7-5.
Since the championship’s inception in 1990, the fierce rivals have met in every gold medal game with the only exception in 2019. Canada has won 13 world titles, while the U.S. has 10.
New Glasgow's Kori Cheverie is the Canadian assistant coach and Middle Sackville's Savannah Newton is the manager of hockey operations for Canada.