Entering the very last group-stage game of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship between the USA and Switzerland, Hayley Wickenheiser’s career total of 49 assists was in serious jeopardy. The USA’s Kendall Coyne-Schofield trailed her by only one point and Hilary Knight by two. A third player, Canadian Marie-Philip Poulin, also trailed by two but was idle on this day.

In the USA’s 5-0 victory, Knight recorded three assists, breaking the tie with Poulin and passing both Coyne-Schofield and Wickenheiser to become, for now, the all-time assists leader in the Women’s World Championships with 50.

“I think something in the room just keeps you young and makes you remember why you signed up,” Knight said thoughtfully after the game. “To be able to play for as long as I have is something special and I understand that every single day now as I’m getting older. It’s such a privilege.”

For her part, Coyne-Schofield scored two goals – the two Knight did not figure on – but did not register an assist.

“I can’t speak more of Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Alex Carpenter, Lee Stecklein, Brianne Decker,” said Knight. “These are the OGs. It’s really special that some of those guys are still here.”

Lee Stecklein: 'Just To Be Back Here, I'm Really Enjoying Every Minute Of It' Defenders accounted for both of the USA’s goals in a 2-1 win over Canada on Sunday night at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship.

“It’s just incredible,” said USA teammate Laila Edwards who currently plays for the University of Wisconsin, Knight’s alma mater. “Being alongside her is such an honor. I can’t even put it into words. We’re all so blessed to be her teammate but, more imporantly, her friends. I think people mostly see how good she is as a player but she’s a wonderful person and she deserves this honor, for sure.”

For now, the record belongs to Knight but, as mentioned, two players that are active in the tournament are within three assists of her. With the USA playing Germany and Canada facing Japan in the quarterfinals, it’s not out of the question that Coyne-Schofield or Poulin could have a big game assists-wise.

Abbey Murphy After 2-Goal Game Vs Czechia: ‘We’re Here For One Thing’ Abbey Murphy from the University of Minnesota is the consensus first-overall pick in the 2025 PWHL draft and she showed why against tournament host Czechia on Friday night. Before a sell-out crowd of 5,859 at Budvar Arena, Murphy scored the USA’s first two goals in a 4-0 win.

Of course, Poulin is also in pursuit of another Wickenheiser record – that being most points by a Canadian player in the Women’s World Championships.

“I’ve played against her, I’ve played with her, she’s a great player,” Knight said of Poulin, who was her teammate with the Montreal Canadiennes of the CWHL. “What we do on this level is extremely special, what we’ve done on the professional level is special as well. It’s a great conversation for both of us to be a part of.”

In an amazing tournament where all sorts of scoring records are falling, Michelle Karvinen has already broken the Finnish record for all-time points in the Women’s Worlds.

“She’s a great player too,” Knight said. “I’ve played against her for many, many years and I was joking around with her that she’s gotta come to the PWHL, so that would be a lot of fun.

“I hope fans know they’re watching some legendary careers,” Knight said sentimentally. “It’s so special to be able to play against players like that. It’s so encouraging for the game.”

Michelle Karvinen Breaks Finnish National Team Scoring Record Michelle Karvinen, captain of the Finnish women’s national team, scored the eventual game-winning goal at 7:27 of the second period of Finland’s 2-1 victory over Switzerland in IIHF Women’s World Championship action on Monday.