U-18 Semi-Finals: Can Anyone Upset Canada Or USA?

Canada and USA have cruised into the U-18 women's World Championship semi-finals. Do they remain untouchable or is an upset brewing?

Canada and USA swept through the round robin portion of the U-18 World Championships outscoring their opponents 48-3. They each were dominant in their groups, but when elimination is on the line, anything can happen, a point proven last year when Sweden upset USA in the semi-finals.

Could Canada or USA be upset in 2024? Here's a look at the semi-final match ups.

Czechia has quickly solidified themselves as one of the top women's hockey nations on the planet winning back-to-back bronze medals at the World Championships. Should the U-18 Czech team medal this year, it would add to that growth. Adela Sapovalivova, who is committed to play NCAA hockey at Wisconsin, is one of the top U-18 players on the planet, and would easily be a standout on either North American roster. She's fast and shifty with the puck. Sapovalivova will have a hard time beating Canada by herself, which is why Tereza Plosova, Czechia's other senior national team member will need to have a big game for her nation. Even if Sapovalivova and Plosova have the game of their lives, Czechia is in tough, and Aneta Senkova will need to have a once in a lifetime game in net. Caitlin Kraemer, Abby Stonehouse, and Chloe Primerano have been Canada's top threats, and Kraemer and Stonehouse are toying with breaking more records, so they'll be all-in on the attack. This is one of the best Canadian teams the nation has sent to a U-18 tournament, and it's unfathomable to envision an upset here. The USA couldn't come close to Canada at the Summer Series, and they'll be the only team with a hope to beat the Canadians.

This Finnish team is not the guaranteed bronze medal team of old. In fact, Finland's system is beginning to show some cracks as Sweden's SDHL continues to be the destination of choice for top players, and staying in Naisten Liiga too long, or on the wrong team, looks like it's hampering some Finns. Still, the nation continues to send players to the NCAA where they're getting the valuable development opportunities they need, but this team does not have many of those top end talents. Tuuli Tallinen has competed hard all tournament for Finland on the blueline, and along with Emma Ekoluoma has been Finland's top players. USA however, is the heavy favorite in this game given their depth. At this year's U-18 tournament, it's been evident that depth is the difference makers, and USA is getting contributions from up and down their lineup. Maggie Scannell has scored as expected, as has veteran Josie St. Martin. But others including Ava Thomas, Mary Derrenbacher and Morgan McGathey have provided timely scoring for the team as well. On the blueline Rose Dwyer and Ellie Dimatos have been a solid pairing, and Layla Hemp, although seldomly tested, has looked sharp.