Canada has outscored USA 10-1 and outshot them 77-25 through two games, in what has turned out to be a lopsided U-18 Select Series.
Canada has outscored USA 10-1 and outshot them 77-25 through two games, in what has turned out to be a lopsided U-18 Select Series.
Through two games, Canada's U-18 Select team has shown themselves to have an almost unfair advantage over their competition.
Through two games, Canada has outscored Team USA 10-1, and outshot their American counterparts 77-25.
While it would be easy to point to Canada's top line of Caitlin Kraemer, Abby Stonehouse, and Stryker Zablocki as the reason for the advantage, it's been Canada's depth and offensive boost from the blueline that has pushed the red and white over the top.
Sienna D'Alessando tops Canadian scorers with two goals and an assist in two games after initially being omitted from Canada's roster. Meanwhile defenders Emma Venusio and Mikayla Watson both have a pair of goals, blueliner Jessica Cheung has one, and the rest of Canada's blueline, players including Chloe Pimerano, Gracie Graham, Avery Pickering, and Rosalie Breton have quickly transitioned pucks up ice, and played a possession game that has stifled USA's best efforts.
The frightening portion for onlookers across the globe, is that many of Canada's top threats, players like Mackenzie Alexander, Morgan Jackson, Primerano, and Maxim Tremblay have remained relatively silent on the scoresheet. Similarly, Charlotte Pieckenhagen, who had four points in five games for Canada's gold medal winning World Championship team last year, is not on the roster due to injury.
USA has a strong roster as well featuring returnees like Maggie Scannell and Bella Fanale, and they are missing top defender Megan Healey, but the difference this year is noticeable.
A lot can still happen between now and the 2024 U-18 World Championships in Switzerland, but for now, Canada is the team to beat. The back-to-back gold medalists look like they're ready to challenge for a three-peat.