Canada Wins World Championship Opener Against Finland

Canada earned a 5-0 win to open their 2025 IIHF World Championships. Looking to repeat as gold medalists, Canada rode their newly formed top line to the win. 

Their top line from the PWHL's Montreal Victoire of Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey, and Jennifer Gardiner didn't miss a beat jumping from pro to the international stage. Just over six minutes into the game, Jennifer Gardiner scored her first IIHF senior national team game for Canada. Ella Shelton and Marie-Philip Poulin assisted on the goal.

After Ella Shelton scored for Canada, Poulin hit the scoresheet herself on a feed from behind the net from Jennifer Gardiner.

Only 18 seconds in the second period, Gardiner recorded her second goal and third point of the night on a flukey shot from the goal line.

Canada slowed their offensive output in the second half of the game, but Emma Maltais would add her first of the tournament late in the game to finish the scoring at 5-0.

Kristen Campbell has Olympic and World Championship gold medals, but only as a third string goalie. If Canada can medal at the 2025 World Championships, this medal would mean a little more to Campbell who made her Canadian senior national team debut at an IIHF event. Not only did she appear, but Campbell stopped all 24 shots she faced for the shutout. She was backed up by Eve Gascon in the game.

Incumbent Team Canada starter Ann-Renee Desbiens was in the stands to watch Canada. She was officially removed from long term injured reserve by the Montreal Victoire 

Finland, last year's bronze medal winning team is now 0-2 to open the 2025 tournament being outscored 12-1.

Canada will face Switzerland tomorrow.