Canada continued its reign over women’s hockey Sunday, downing the United States 2-1 to take home gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship.

The 2022 Wolds title joins Canada’s gold medals from the 2021 IIHF World Championships and the Tokyo Olympics.

Sunday marked the 20th time in Worlds history where the final featured Team USA vs. Canada, adding another chapter to a bitter rivalry.

Canada came out hot, leading the United States 5-2 in shot attempts in the opening frame, but failed to find the back of the net, keeping the matchup deadlocked heading into the second quarter.

Brianne Jenner broke the tie at the 10:29 mark in the second, scoring a silky goal, assisted by Marie-Philip Poulin and Ella Shelton, to put Canada ahead.

A minute late, Jenner scored again, converting a slap shot on a Canada power play to double her side’s lead.

Down 2-0, the United States had to make a move, and they did so in dwindling seconds of the second frame.

Abby Roque played hero, tapping in a backdoor pass from Amanda Kessel to bring the United States within one of Canada heading into the final frame.

Despite a wave of pressure from Team USA and several close calls, the score line remained in Canada’s favor until the buzzer.

Ann-Renée Desbiens was critical in keeping Canada ahead, making a series of saves to deny quality chances from Lacey Eden, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Hilary Knight to secure the victory for her team.

“Just get something in front of the puck, it doesn’t need to be pretty,” Desbiens said of her last-minute stops.

Despite the United States defeating their rivals 5-2 in the tournament’s group stage, it was Canada who came out victorious when it mattered most.

Sunday’s win earns Canada its third gold medal in 12 months.

Hilary Knight has written her name in the history books once again, becoming the all-time leading scorer at the IIHF Women’s World Championship on Thursday.

The 33-year-old notched a goal and an assist during the United States’ 12-1 blowout win over Hungary to catapult her to the top of the all-time points list with 87. She surpassed former Canada great Hayley Wickenheiser, who had 86 career points at worlds.

Knight already owned the record for career goals at the IIHF tournament, and her third-period tally extended her record to 51. It also assured her of the points record, after a scoring change took away a second-period assist that seemed to be the record-breaker.

Thursday’s emphatic win advances the United States to Saturday’s semifinals.

Knight has been on a tear in Denmark, scoring in the United States’ 5-2 victory over Canada on Tuesday to help clinch the top spot in Group A and the top seed in the knockout round.

She has four goals and three assists in five games so far.

Knight’s record-setting game Thursday earned her praise across the sports world, including from tennis icon Billie Jean King, who congratulated the hockey star on her groundbreaking feat.

Team USA will continue its quest for glory in Saturday’s semifinals. The two semifinal matchups will air at 8 a.m. ET and 12 p.m. ET on NHL Network, and the gold medal game will air at 1:30 p.m. ET Sunday on NHL Network.

The United States scored five goals in a row against rival Canada to rally to a 5-2 victory Tuesday to close out the group stage of the IIHF Women’s World Championship.

With the win, Team USA finishes atop Group A at the tournament in Denmark and seals the top seed for the knockout stage, which starts Thursday with the quarterfinals. The Americans will take on Hungary from Group B at 10 a.m. ET, while the Canadians will face Sweden at 2 p.m. ET.

After Canada surged to a 2-0 first period lead Tuesday, Megan Keller got on the board for the United States early in the second period, and then Kelly Pannek followed with another.

A few minutes into the third period, 20-year-old Lacey Eden scored the go-ahead goal for Team USA, sending the puck over the shoulder of Canadian netminder Emerance Maschmeyer.

Kendall Coyne Schofield added another tally for the United States, and Hilary Knight iced the victory with an empty net goal.

Knight’s goal increased her career tally of world championship points to 85. She sits at second in tournament history, and she needs just two more to break the record of 86 points held by former Canada player Hayley Wickenheiser.

While Canada won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics over the United States and also won the 2021 world championship, besting their rival in both finals, Team USA has been the stronger team in this tournament.

Heading into Tuesday, both the United States and Canada had gone undefeated through their first three games of the group stage, but the former had displayed more firepower in its wins.

Team USA kicked off the tournament with a 10-0 win over Japan. From there, the Americans haven’t let off the gas. They won 6-1 over Finland and 9-0 over Switzerland, showing marked improvement from their group-stage wins at the Olympics.

Team USA entered Tuesday having scored the most goals so far in the tournament, with 25 goals coming off 191 shots on goal. Czech Republic entered the day as the most efficient goal scoring team, with 18 goals on 126 shots on goal.

Undefeated Czech Republic finished atop the lower-tier Group B and will face Finland in the quarterfinals. The fourth- and fifth-place teams in Group A, Switzerland and Japan, will compete in the last quarterfinal.

Knockout round schedule

All times listed in ET. Games in bold will be televised on NHL Network.

Thursday, Sept. 1:

  • United States vs. Hungary, 10 a.m.
  • Canada vs. Sweden, 2 p.m.
  • Switzerland vs. Japan, 6 a.m.
  • Finland vs. Czech Republic, 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 3

  • Semifinal #1, 8 a.m. (NHL Network)
  • Semifinal #2, 12 p.m. (NHL Network)

Sunday, Sept. 4:

  • Bronze medal game, 9 a.m. (NHL Network)
  • Gold medal game, 1:30 p.m. (NHL Network)

This year offers double the hockey and double the fun with the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship set to kick off Thursday in Denmark.

A world championship and an Olympics never before have been played in the same year, which means 2022 Winter Games champion Canada could be the first team to score a golden double dip.

Canada won the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics over the United States and also won the 2021 world championship, besting the United States in both finals. The Canadian team will look for a third straight gold in Denmark.

Canada leads Group A and is joined by Finland, Japan, the United States and Switzerland. Group B features the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and Hungary. Every team from Group A and the top three teams from Group B advance to the knockout round.

In Group B, Denmark will look to avoid relegation to the lower division, the fate for the two teams that finish at the bottom of the lower group. Denmark would be just the second team in world championship history, men’s or women’s, to be relegated while hosting the event, joining the 2005 Austrian men’s team.

The United States and Canada look set to duke it out for the top spot in Group A.

During group play at the Olympics, Team USA won all its games except for those against Canada, which went undefeated. The hard-fought gold-medal game ended in a 3-2 win for the Canadians, with Marie-Philip Poulin once again providing the game winner after doing the same at the 2021 world championship.

“NHL 23” cover star Sarah Nurse is also a threat for Canada, having played her way up to the first line during the Olympics by leading the tournament in scoring.

Both Canada and the U.S. are sporting rosters similar to their Olympic squads, with just a few additions and subtractions.

In Group B, Sweden and the Czech Republic both look like strong contenders to advance to the knockout round. Both made it to the knockout round of the Olympic tournament before being eliminated by Canada and Team USA, respectively.

Full Schedule

All times listed in ET. Games in bold will be televised on NHL Network.

Thursday, Aug. 25:

  • Japan vs. USA, 9 a.m.
  • Germany vs. Hungary, 9:30 a.m.
  • Finland vs. Canada, 1 p.m.
  • Denmark vs. Sweden, 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 26:

  • Switzerland vs. Japan, 12:30 p.m.
  • Hungary vs. Czech Republic, 1 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 27:

  • USA vs. Finland, 9 a.m.
  • Sweden vs. Germany, 9:30 a.m.
  • Canada vs. Switzerland, 1 p.m.
  • Czech Republic vs. Denmark, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 28:

  • Japan vs. Canada, 9 a.m.
  • Denmark vs. Hungary, 11 a.m.

Monday, Aug. 29:

  • Finland vs. Japan, 9 a.m.
  • Germany vs. Czech Republic, 9:30 a.m.
  • USA vs. Switzerland, 1 p.m.
  • Hungary vs. Sweden, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 30:

  • Sweden vs. Czech Republic, 9:30 a.m.
  • Switzerland vs. Finland, 10 a.m.
  • Denmark vs. Germany, 1:30 p.m.
  • USA vs. Canada, 2 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 1:

  • Quarterfinal #1, 10 a.m.
  • Quarterfinal #2, 2 p.m.
  • Quarterfinal #3, 6 a.m.
  • Quarterfinal #4, 11:30 a.m.

Saturday, Sept. 3

  • Semifinal #1, 8 a.m. (NHL Network)
  • Semifinal #2, 12 p.m. (NHL Network)

Sunday, Sept. 4:

  • Bronze medal game, 9 a.m. (NHL Network)
  • Gold medal game, 1:30 p.m. (NHL Network)

The United States and Canada have named their rosters for the 2022 IIHF Women’s World Championship, which is set to take place in Denmark beginning Aug. 25.

The tournament comes just six months after the bitter rivals met in the gold-medal game at the Beijing Olympics. This marks the first time a world championship and the Olympics have been held in the same year, and Canada could double its gold medal total for 2022 after besting the United States 3-2 in Beijing.

U.S. Roster

For United States, a total of 18 players from the Olympics will take the ice in Denmark.

Lacey Eden and Aerin Frankel, who were part of the 2021 national team but not named to the Olympic roster, are also included, as well three newcomers to round out the 23-player roster: Hannah Bilka, Taylor Heise and Rory Guilday.

Forward Hilary Knight will make her 12th world championship appearance, while Kendall Coyne Schofield will make her ninth.

John Wroblewski will lead the team as head coach.

“We had an incredibly competitive week at this year’s national festival,” said Katie Million, USA Hockey ‘s Director of Women’s National Programs. “Choosing a team is never easy, but these 23 players earned the right to put on the U.S. jersey. We’re excited to bring this team to Denmark, as we look to take home a women’s world championship title.”

Goaltenders: 

  • Aerin Frankel
  • Maddie Rooney
  • Nicole Hensley

Defense:

  • Caroline Harvey
  • Cayla Barnes
  • Jincy Dunne
  • Lee Stecklein
  • Megan Keller
  • Rory Guilday
  • Savannah Harmon

Forwards

  • Abby Roque
  • Alex Carpenter
  • Amanda Kessel
  • Grace Zumwinkle
  • Hannah Blika
  • Hannah Brandt
  • Hayley Scamurra
  • Hilary Knight
  • Jesse Compher
  • Kelly Pannek
  • Kendall Coyne Schofield
  • Lacey Eden
  • Taylor Heise

Canada roster

Canada also will have 18 members from their gold-medal winning Olympic team returning for worlds. The reigning champions will attempt to win back-to-back world titles for the first time since they won three straight from 1999 to 2001.

“We had a great year, we had the world championship, we had the Olympics, we had a moment where we celebrated, but now we’re back to work,” captain Marie-Philip Poulin said. Poulin factored heavily in the last two tournaments, scoring the overtime winner at last summer’s worlds to beat the U.S. and scoring twice in the Olympic final to help Canada to gold.

Among the other returning veterans are forwards Blayre Turnbull and Brianne Jenner, who was named MVP of the Olympic tournament. Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens will return to the net for Canada.

“We want to keep building on that and see how far we can push ourselves and push our team,” Turnbull said. “Although it was a pretty quick turnaround, I don’t think there was much hesitation with the older girls on the team to get back here and to get back to this environment.”

Rebecca Johnston, Melodie Daoust, Natalie Spooner and Claire Thompson – all members of the Olympic team – did not report to camp for various personal reasons and have not been named to the team.

Goaltenders

  • Ann-Renée Desbiens
  • Emerance Maschmeyer
  • Kristen Campbell

Defense

  • Jocelyne Larocque
  • Meaghan Mikkelson
  • Renata Fast
  • Ella Shelton
  • Ashton Bell
  • Erin Ambrose
  • Micah Zandee-Hart

Forwards

  • Laura Stacey
  • Jessie Eldridge 
  • Sarah Fillier 
  • Brianne Jenner 
  • Sarah Nurse
  • Emily Clark 
  • Emma Maltais 
  • Marie-Philip Poulin 
  • Blayre Turnbull 
  • Kristin O’Neill 
  • Sarah Potomak 
  • Jamie Lee Rattray 
  • Victoria Bach

The 2021 IIHF Women’s Hockey World Championship is finally upon us.

After being cancelled twice due to coronavirus, the event was rescheduled for Aug. 20-31 in Alberta, Canada.

With World Championships slated to begin Thursday, Aug. 20, the full schedule has arrived.

Team USA is set to begin the preliminary round against Switzerland on Aug. 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET. They will then play Finland and Russia Aug. 22 and Aug. 24 respectively before setting their sight on Canada.

The Americans will face off against Canada on Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. ET. It will be a highly anticipated matchup — and a potential preview of the hockey finals at the Beijing Olympics in 2022.

Historically, Canada held a chokehold on the World Championships up until 2013, when the United States won their fifth world title. Since then, the United States has not lost a world title. Their most recent win came in Finland in 2019.

All games will be held on NHL Network.