Simms Scores In Overtime To Give United States 1-0 Win Over Canada To Claim Group A

Kirsten Simms scored with 1:22 left in overtime as the United States defeated Canada, 1-0, to capture Group A at the conclusion of round-robin play at the Women's World Championship.

UTICA, New York — Kirsten Simms has scored big goals in her young career, but Monday's overtime winner against Canada rocketed to the top of her list.

The 19-year-old struck with 1:22 left in the extra period, giving the United States a rare, 1-0 win over the Canadians at the IIHF Women's World Championship. The victory gives the Americans sole possession of first place in Group A at the conclusion of round-robin competition.

After Canada's Brianne Jenner fell in the corner of the offensive zone, the Americans rushed up ice on a 3-on-1. Defender Caroline Harvey carried into the left circle and passed back to Simms in the slot. The forward wristed the puck through an unintended screen by Marie-Philip Poulin and between goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens' pads.

"I'll take any goal, and this one's just a little bit extra special," Simms said. "I was actually thinking pass because I like to, but the shot was there, so I just took it. I didn't really mean to put it on the ice, but I saw the shot was open, so I know there was a chance of it going in or coming out as a rebound."

Simms, who made her senior team debut this season, scored the game-winner in the Wisconsin Badgers' national championship win over Ohio State in 2023. A finalist for the 2024 Patty Kazmaier Award, she also delivered a goal against the Canadians in the teams' Rivalry Series in December.

"It's the fastest game I've ever played, the most physical game I've ever played, but super fun hockey at the end of the day." Simms said.

"She's a true hockey player and she loves the game," Team USA captain Hilary Knight said of Simms. "She lives, eats, breathes the game."

Aerin Frankel finished with 26 saves for the shutout before a sellout crowd of 4,017. The mark set an ice hockey attendance record for the Adirondack Bank Center.

"You just have to be sharp," Frankel said. "You can't really take any shots off because in a 0-0 game every shot matters. We were ultimately able to get one at the end.

"We're so excited to be here playing in front of our own fans. There's just so much support that we can feel since day one of being in Utica. Tonight, maybe we won over some more of those fans and they're going to be excited for us to go into the medal rounds. That's what we want, right? We do it for all the fans, as well as our country and the young ones who are going to come after us."

Desbiens was equally spectacular in stopping 29 shots.

Canada's Renata Fast set the tone for a physical game seconds into the contest. On the first American rush into the zone, the defender checked forward Kendall Coyne Schofield in the corner. 

The teams ultimately combined for three illegal hits and a roughing penalty in the contest. But, for the most part, referees held back in calling penalties for physicality.

"It was classic Canada-U.S. in a way that was physical and it was really nice the refs let us play 5-on-5 for the three periods," Desbiens said. "Obviously it's the two best teams in the world, so you want to see that."

The U.S. dominated puck possession in the first period and outshot Canada, 12-6.

The Canadians responded in the following period and came up with their best chances to get on the board. Frankel, however, came up with a glove save on Sarah Nurse from the right circle with 5 1/2 minutes left in the period. A little more than 45 seconds later, Blayre Turnbull fired a shot off the crossbar.

The U.S. regained momentum in the third before outshooting Canada 7-0 in overtime.

"I could sense that we were getting a lot of chances and it was kind of a matter of time before we were going to find back the net," Frankel said. "Credit to their goalie who played really well, but I'm glad that Simmsy was able to finish that one for us."

The rivals have skated in a 1-0 contest at the Women's World Championship just twice — in 2016 and 2005 — both victories for the United States in the gold-medal game.

Monday marked the 35th meeting between the teams at the World Championship, with the U.S. now leading all-time, 18-17. All but one has ended with these teams facing one another for gold, so it is likely the record will see yet another adjustment before the end of the tournament.

Before a potential collision course is set, however, they must await the conclusion of Group B play on Tuesday to know their respective quarterfinals opponents.

"I don't think we're overly stressed about it to be honest," Canada coach Troy Ryan said. "I think it was a really good hockey game to end a round-round series. I think you come into the game obviously trying to win, but you're trying to learn as much as you can about the opposition to continue to get better."