Canada Finishes Atop Group B At U-18 Worlds Setting Up Quarterfinal Against Japan

Canada finished atop Group B after the round robin of the U-18 World Championships. They'll face Team Japan in the quarter-finals.

Canada entered their final game of the preliminary round seeking revenge for the heartbreak from a year ago. The 2024 tournament saw Czechia defeat Canada 4-2 in the semi finals, dashing their chances of winning their third straight gold. Canada came in with some extra motivation and it showed, scoring one in the first, one in the second and three in the third to defeat Czechia 5-0 and go 3-0 to start the tournament.

As we’ve done through the previous two games, let’s check in on how your Etobicoke Dolphins squad did this afternoon.

Sydney Sawyer, with that great shot of hers from the point, earned the primary assist on the opening goal, which was her first U18 Worlds career point. One of her best attributes is how active her stick is, both in her own zone and through the neutral zone on backchecks and that was on full display again this afternoon. Activating down low, one of her patented moves, Sawyer also scored her first goal of the tournament early in the third to make it 4-0 Canada.

Ava Wood, who has been one of Canada’s most reliable and effective players through the first two games, was deservedly elevated from 13th forward to join her Dolphins’ linemates Lexie Bertelsen and Sofia Ismael and helped to generate some really good scoring chances. As was the case in her previous two games, she’s unafraid to drive the net or to set up as a screen in front.

Lexie Bertelsen continues to showcase one of her biggest assets: speed - one minute she’s in her own end and then she’s in the offensive zone. In this one, she was flying out there, driving down the boards and creating chances. Once again, she was an effective penalty killer in this game, helping Canada to remain perfect in that department, and helped the team to generate plays seemingly out of nowhere.

Sofia Ismael looked really good on the second powerplay unit in this game and generated some good looks, especially from down low and behind the goal line. She was also unafraid to block shots in order to preserve the lead and did so on multiple occasions.

Riley Sorokan was really great on the penalty kill and kept making the right plays all game long, including the primary assist on the second goal of the game by Alex Therien. Sorokan quietly has consistently good games and this was another example of that.

Rachel Piggott did not play in this game.

With the win, Canada will face off against Japan on Thursday.q