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Saskatchewan communities come together

Churchbridge and Langenburg used a benefit hockey game and auction to raise more than $30,000 to support a family struck by tragedy

Nicholas Pescod
|
April 04, 2023

The devastation of tragedy. The power of community. The spirit of the Prairies.

On Jan. 20, Damion Holstein was driving with his father and girlfriend to play a game with the Langenburg U18 Warriors when they were hit by a train in Churchbridge, Sask., a small community near the Manitoba border.

Miraculously, Damion and his girlfriend survived with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. 

“I honestly don't remember much during the accident, like when it happened, but before and after, it's all there,” recalls Damion, who suffered broken ribs and a lacerated spleen and had his hockey season come to an end.

“[My girlfriend], she tore a ligament in one foot, and I think a tendon in the other and she also had a concussion.”

However, Damion’s father, 41-year-old David Holstein, who was behind the wheel, was pronounced dead at the scene.

“He was pretty funny. He always put a smile on people's faces,” says Damion. “He is what got me into hockey because he loved watching [the] Los Angeles [Kings] play and that was his favourite team up until the end.”

The Warriors were still on the ice when they learned what happened and decided to hang Damion’s jersey on their bench for the remainder of the game as a show of support — something the 17-year-old is extremely grateful for.

“To see the support from my team, it was really heartwarming, and they didn't really know until the third period. The fact they still went out of their way put my jersey up that game was phenomenal,” says Damion.



David Holstein, left, with his sons Damion and Riley. 

Almost immediately after the incident, the Langenburg Warriors began making plans to do something more for Damion, his younger brother Riley and their mom Kathleen Jenson. 

“It’s an interesting thing when something happens in a small community. It’s just everybody wants to help and they don’t know, but they just start helping anyway and that’s kind of what happened,” says Wendy Maksymchuk, team manager of the Warriors.

To show their support, the Warriors decided they would move their last regular season home game, slated for Feb. 1, to Damion’s hometown of Churchbridge, which is about 10 minutes from Langenburg.

“We thought that would be a really nice sentiment, but just on a very small level,” says Maksymchuk.

At the same time, the community of Churchbridge was also looking for ways to show their support and decided to use the Warriors’ last home game as an opportunity to hold a fundraiser and silent auction with the proceeds going to Damion and his family.

“I got a phone call from the principal from the school in Churchbridge who said that the Churchbridge community also wanted to do something and were wondering if they could turn the hockey game into a community benefit fundraiser for Damion and his brother Riley,” recalls Maksymchuk, adding, “I was so

relieved because it felt like we have a direction because so many people wanted to help and now we had a plan. Things just exploded from there.”

By this time, a coach with the Warriors had contacted TSN’s Darren Dreger and asked if he could help in any way. Dreger, who went to high school in Langenburg and still has family in the community, reached out to the Regina Pats and Edmonton Oilers and shared the tragedy. 

The Pats responded by sending a signed Connor Bedard jersey while the Oilers sent a signed Ryan Nugent-Hopkins jersey. 

“A bit of the buzz that kind of started things rolling really quickly was Darren Dreger's efforts,” says Maksymchuk. “That Bedard jersey, we were just coming off the World Juniors and it just created the buzz that I think that the event needed right from the start because we knew it was coming pretty much as soon as we knew the event was going to take place.”

Three other signed jerseys —Tanner Jeannot (Nashville Predators), Kevin Kaminski (SJHL’s La Ronge Ice Wolves) and George Reed (Saskatchewan Roughriders) — were also donated along with 75 other items. Organizers decided to auction off the jerseys through Facebook ahead of the game to not only raise money but generate interest in the game, while the rest would be raffled off or used for the silent auction.

 “Once we got to the people channelling their efforts, things kind of went together really quickly because there were so many people that wanted to help,” says Maksymchuk.

ChurchbridgeAutographed jerseys, including Connor Bedard (Regina Pats) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers), on display at Kaminski Arena in Churchbridge, Sask., on Feb. 1, 2023. 

On Feb. 1, the Warriors' game against the Balcarres Broncs was held at Churchbridge’s Kaminski Arena in front of a capacity crowd.

“These teams had never played in front of a full house before and they were actually so nervous,” says Maksymchuk. “It was kind of cute, actually, and they very much enjoyed it, but you could tell right off the start their hands were shaking.”

 “It really warmed my heart to see my friends and family come together to bring together a benefit game for us. It was really nice to see that,” says Riley.

During the third period, the online Facebook auction for the autographed jerseys concluded, bringing in over $6,500. The Bedard jersey fetched an eye-popping $4,000 while Nugent-Hopkins went for $1,600.

“Everybody’s eyes were huge and jaws were on the ground,” says Maksymchuk.

 “I can’t even put words to it because I would have never expected that,” adds Jenson. “Not only to see them fill the rink and show support but basically to save me. I had no idea how I was going to function in the next while. Their dad and I had been split for 15 years but you’re still not on your own, you’re still sharing work, sharing expenses and losing all that was very difficult, not to mention the loss of their father.”

In the end, approximately $30,000 was raised from the jersey and silent auctions, the raffle and general donations, with all the proceeds going to a trust fund that had been established for Damion and Riley.

“You don’t expect a whole community to step up like that,” says Jenson. “It was a whole bunch of small communities coming together. It wasn’t just Churchbridge or Langenburg, it was the surrounding area that showed up and supported us.”

“To see the community come together for the benefit game and show their loving support was incredible,” adds Damion.


Canada vs. United States

Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States

Saturday, February 8 | 7 p.m. AT | Summerside, Prince Edward Island | Game 5

Shannon Coulter
|
February 08, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 8)

It all comes down to Game 5. Canada’s National Women's Team faces its cross-border rivals from the United States in a Saturday night showdown to decide the Rivalry Series at Credit Union Place.

Last Meeting & Last Game

Canada dropped a 2-1 shootout decision on Thursday in Halifax, evening up the series at two wins apiece. Hilary Knight scored midway through the first period to give the Americans the lead, but it was the home-province hero, Blayre Turnbull, scoring with 2:20 remaining to send the game to overtime before the U.S. converted on three of four shootout attempts.

What to Watch

It’s been a warm East Coast welcome for Turnbull. The 31-year-old native of Stellarton, Nova Scotia, has two goals and an assist in this year’s Rivalry Series to go along with five goals and two helpers in 15 games as captain of the Toronto Sceptres of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL). Of course, in a winner-take-all scenario, we’d be remiss if we did not talk about Captain Canada, Marie-Philip Poulin. The Montreal Victoire captain has a history of scoring in clutch scenarios, whether it was the game-winner in last year’s Rivalry Series finale or gold medal games at four Olympics. She leads the PWHL with 10 goals in 14 games.

Gwyneth Philips was terrific in the American goal in Halifax, finishing with 31 saves in regulation and overtime before turning away all three Canadian shooters in the shootout to record her first international win. And, of course, Knight continues to make an impact in international games, with her goal in Halifax giving her three in as many Rivalry Series games. The 35-year-old, who leads the Boston Fleet with 11 points (5-6—11) in 13 PWHL games this season, has scored 159 goals in 235 Team USA games over her 19-year international career.

Milestone Watch

Brianne Jenner is just two goals away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Laura Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray are both five points from 50 in their careers.

A Look Back

Winner-take-all games have been a common occurrence in the Rivalry Series lately. This is the third year in a row the series will be decided in the final game. Last year, Canada once again erased a 3-0 series deficit and completed the reverse sweep with a 6-1 win in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Natalie Spooner and Emma Maltais scored twice as Canada capitalized on special teams with two power-play goals and a shorthanded marker.

Saturday also marks the first time Canada’s National Women’s Team will play the United States on Prince Edward Island.

All-time record: Canada leads 107-81-1 (25-21 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 526
United States goals: 463

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Canada vs. United States

Rivalry Series Preview: Canada vs. United States

Thursday, February 6 | 7 p.m. AT | Halifax, Nova Scotia | Game 4

Shannon Coulter
|
February 06, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (FEB. 6)

Hello, Halifax! Canada’s National Women's Team is back in action against its cross-border rivals, kicking off the Canadian leg of the Rivalry Series against the United States on Thursday night at Scotiabank Centre.

Last Meeting & Last Game

Canada took a 2-1 lead in the Rivalry Series with a 4-1 win in Boise, Idaho, back in November. Jocelyne Larocque and Sarah Nurse gave Canada an early lead in the first period, with Kristin O’Neill making it a 3-0 game in the middle frame. The Americans got one back on the power play in the third, but Emily Clark provided the final margin of victory with less than four minutes left.

What to Watch

With the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) season well underway, three different members of Canada’s National Women’s Team lead the league in points, goals and assists. Sarah Fillier (New York Sirens) leads the PWHL in scoring with 15 points (5-10—15) after a fantastic start to her professional career. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin (Montreal Victoire) leads with 10 goals in 14 games (10-2—12), while Claire Thompson (Minnesota Frost) leads with 10 assists in 15 games (4-10—14). Between the pipes, Ann-Renée Desbiens tops all qualified goaltenders in wins (8), goals-against average (1.77) and save percentage (.935).

Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise sit right behind Fillier in PWHL scoring. Coyne Schofield, the Americans’ veteran captain, has earned 14 points (6-8—14) in 15 games, while Heise, the reigning Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP, has recorded 14 points (4-10—14) in 14 games. The United States also made a change to its roster on Tuesday; Alex Carpenter, Gabby Rosenthal, Hayley Scamurra and Grace Zumwinkle are no longer able to participate, and were replaced by Izzy Daniel, Clair DeGeorge, Maureen Murphy and Mannon McMahon.

Milestone Watch

Thursday’s game marks international game No. 100 for Nurse and Laura Stacey. Brianne Jenner is just two goals away from 50 for her Team Canada career, which would make her the 14th player to reach that mark. Stacey and Jamie Lee Rattray are both sitting five points away from 50 in their careers.

With her assist on Canada’s first goal in Game 3, Poulin passed Hockey Hall of Fame forward Danielle Goyette for fourth place in all-time National Women’s Team scoring (220 points).

A Look Back

This is the third time Halifax has hosted the Canada-United States rivalry, and Thursday marks the first time since 2004 that the team will play in Nova Scotia after the COVID-19 pandemic erased the opportunity for the city to host the IIHF Women’s World Championship.

Canada captured its eighth consecutive Women’s Worlds gold with a 2-0 win over the Americans in Halifax on April 6, 2004. After a scoreless first, Hayley Wickenheiser opened the scoring four minutes into the second period before Delaney Collins doubled the advantage early in the third. Kim St-Pierre was terrific in the Canadian goal (as the Hall of Famer typically was), posting a 26-save shutout.

All-time record: Canada leads 107-80-1 (25-20 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 525
United States goals: 462

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What’s the best Team Canada jersey ever?

We want to know, and we’re asking our fans for their help!

Jason La Rose
|
January 23, 2025

Since the Winnipeg Falcons represented Canada at the 1920 Summer Olympic Games, Canadian teams on the international stage have worn jerseys that have celebrated the country, its provinces and cities, the Armed Forces, organizations and fans.

But which one is the best?

That’s what we want to figure out…and we need your help!

We’ve selected 16 of our favourite Team Canada looks, and over the next three weeks we’re putting it to a vote across our social media channels – on X, Facebook Story and Instagram Story.

The 16 jerseys include:

• 1952 Olympic Winter Games (Edmonton Mercurys)
• 1961 National Men’s Team (Trail Smoke Eaters)
• 1980 Olympic Winter Games
• 1982 National Junior Team
• 1987 Canada Cup
• 1992 National Women’s Team
• 1994 National Men’s Team
• 1995 National Junior Team
• 1998-99 National Teams
• 2002 Olympic Winter Games
• 2002 Olympic Winter Games – 3rd jersey
• 2010 Olympic Winter Games
• 2008-15 National Teams
• 2014-15 National Teams (100th Anniversary)
• 2015-25 National Teams
• 2021-25 National Teams (One Leaf)

Votes will be combined across multiple platforms, so just because a jersey captures a higher percentage of the votes on one platform does not necessarily mean it will win the overall vote. Check out the bracket at the top of the page – it will be updated after each matchup.

First-round matchups will last 24 hours. Quarterfinals and semifinals will be 48 hours, with the final lasting 72 hours to help us crown Team Canada’s best-ever look.

First Round
• January 23
• January 24
• January 25
• January 26
• January 27
• January 28
• January 29
• January 30

Quarterfinals
• January 31-February 1
• February 2-3
• February 4-5
• February 6-7

Semifinals
• February 8-9
• February 10-11

Final
• February 12-14

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. United States

Sunday, January 12 | 12 p.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Gold Medal Game

Jason La Rose
|
January 12, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. UNITED STATES (JAN. 12)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is one win away from an eighth world title, facing off against the United States in the gold medal game Sunday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Last Game

Canada gained a measure of revenge in its semifinal, doubling up Czechia 4-2 one year after the Czechs shocked Canada by the same score in the semis. Stryker Zablocki continued her red-hot run, scoring once and adding an assist, as did Caileigh Tiller. Marilou Grenier made 19 saves, while Chloe Primerano chipped in with two assists, becoming the all-time leading scorer in National Women’s Under-18 Team history.

The Americans got a scare from Sweden in their Saturday semifinal, holding on for a 2-1 win to book their place in the final. The defending world champions got two second-period goals from captain Anabella Fanale and 17 saves from Morgan Stickney to advance to their 16th gold medal game.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Americans clashed in a three-game summer series in Thorold, Ontario, in August, with Canada taking two of three. In the series finale, Stryker Zablocki forced overtime by scoring with just 58 seconds left in the third period, but a seven-round shootout went the way of the U.S. in a 4-3 final.

The last meeting between the rivals at U18 Women’s Worlds came in preliminary-round play at the 2023 tournament in Ostersund, Sweden. Caitlin Kraemer scored twice, Emma Pais had a goal and a helper and the Canadians held the U.S. to only 11 shots on goal in a 3-1 victory that completed a perfect prelims for Canada.

What to Watch

While this space is typically reserved for individual efforts, we would be remiss if we let the tournament end without highlighting the top-to-bottom effort that has allowed Canada to return to the gold medal game. Through three preliminary-round wins and a pair of playoff victories, the Canadians have scored the most goals (37), taken the most shots (250) and allowed the fewest shots (63), while icing the tournament’s best power play (45%) and best penalty kill (94.7%). All 20 skaters have recorded at least one point, with three of the tournament’s top four scorers wearing the Maple Leaf – Zablocki (7-4—11), Primerano (4-6—10) and Maxine Cimoroni (4-6—10). And the goaltenders haven’t been too bad, either – Grenier has a .917 save percentage in her three starts, while Amelia Wilkinson has allowed just one goal across her 120 minutes for a 0.50 goals-against average and .933 save percentage.

The Americans have clamped down defensively and have yet to allow a goal at five-on-five in the tournament, giving up just two in total (both on the power play) across five games. A big reason they’re not allowing many goals? They’re not allowing many shots. The U.S. has given up just 64, with the 18 taken by Sweden the highest single-game total. Morgan Stickney has played every second between the pipes, fashioning a miniscule 0.40 goals-against average and .969 save percentage with three shutouts, while Fanale (5-4—9) and Mary Derrenbacher (2-6—8) have done the heavy lifting up front. And then there’s the experience factor; the Americans have eight players – Derrenbacher, Fanale, Caroline Averill, Margaret Averill, Haley Box, Natalia Dilbone, Megan Healy and Macy Rasmussen – back from the team that beat Czechia 5-1 to win gold a year ago in Zug.

A Look Back

When you include summer series, Canada and the U.S. have met 68 times since the creation of the U18 program in 2007. The Canadians have a 38-30 edge overall, while the Americans have won 13 of 22 at U18 Women’s Worlds.

But if history tells us anything, expect a close game; of the 22 meetings at the world championship, 10 have needed overtime and three others have been one-goal finishes in regulation time. Canada claimed its first-ever gold medal in extra time; current Seattle Kraken assistant coach Jessica Campbell provided the heroics in 2010, scoring the winner to put the Canadians atop the podium in Chicago.

All-time record: United States leads 13-9 (6-4 in OT/SO)
Canada goals: 48
United States goals: 62

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Czechia

Saturday, January 11 | 11:30 a.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Semifinal

Jason La Rose
|
January 11, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 11)

After a historic quarterfinal victory, Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team faces a familiar foe in the semifinals when it takes on Czechia on Saturday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.

Last Game

Canada scored early and very often on Thursday, netting seven goals in each of the first two periods en route to a 17-0 win over Japan to equal its single-game scoring record. In the first 16 editions of the tournament, only six times had a Canadian skater recorded five points in a game. Four players did it against the Japanese – Stryker Zablocki (3-2—5), Maxine Cimoroni (3-2—5), Chloe Primerano (2-3—5) and Caileigh Tiller (2-3—5). Canada went 4-for-4 on the power play, tying the tournament record for PPGs in a game, and it finished with a massive 76-4 advantage in shots on goal.

The Czechs secured their place in the final four with a comfortable shutout win of their own, blanking Finland 6-0 on Thursday. Adela Fromova, Viktorie Jilkova, Dana Brezinova and Magdalena Felcmanova recorded a goal and an assist apiece for Czechia, while Daniela Novakova turned away all 18 shots directed her way to earn the clean sheet.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Czechs clashed in the preliminary-round finale on Tuesday, with the Canadians wrapping up first place on Group B with a 5-0 win. Zablocki led the offence with two goals, Sydney Sawyer had a goal and an assist, and Kate Viel chipped in with two helpers. Marilou Grenier posted the shutout with a 20-save effort, half of those coming in the third period.

What to Watch

With Primerano on the verge of more history, let’s put the focus once again on the Canadian captain. The North Vancouver, B.C., product – who already became the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history earlier in the tournament – has moved within striking distance of a couple more significant milestones. With her five points against the Japanese (four of those, by the way came in the first period, just the fifth four-point period in tournament history), Primerano needs just one point to become the leading scorer in National Women’s Under-18 Team history (she’s even with Caitlin Kraemer) and three to surpass the iconic Marie-Philip Poulin as the highest-scoring Canadian in tournament history. She also has an outside shot at passing Erin Ambrose for most assists in Team Canada history (she needs five). All in all, just another ho-hum international appearance for Primerano.

The Czechs have their sights set on more history. One year ago, in the semifinals, the Czechs stunned a Canadian team that had been downright dominant; after outscoring its opponents 36-1 in four games, Canada dropped a 4-2 decision to Czechia in one of the biggest upsets in tournament history. Twelve months later, 11 players who were part of that win are back for the Czechs, although that list doesn’t include the three players who scored goals in that game or standout goaltender Aneta Senkova (who made 45 saves). Czechia has reached the final four with an offence-by-committee approach; no skater has more than four points, and nine have at least three. Novakova has been a workhorse, playing every second for the Czechs; she has fashioned a 2.24 goals-against average and .919 save percentage.

A Look Back

This is meeting No. 10 between the Canadians and Czechs, with Canada taking eight of the first nine (the only blemish was the semifinal a year ago in Zug) and outscoring Czechia 65-9.

A pair of future Olympic gold medallists made their marks in the first matchup at the inaugural U18 Women’s Worlds in 2008; Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner recorded a hat trick apiece in an 11-2 Canadian win in Calgary. Poulin finished with five points in that win, still one of just six such performances by a Canadian in tournament history.

All-time record: Canada leads 8-1
Canada goals: 65
Czechia goals: 9

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Japan

Thursday, January 9 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Quarterfinal

Jason La Rose
|
January 09, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. JAPAN (JAN. 9)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is on to the playoffs at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, taking on Japan in quarterfinal action Thursday.

Last Game

Canada closed out a perfect preliminary round with a 5-0 win over Czechia on Tuesday. Stryker Zablocki led the way with two goals, Sydney Sawyer had a goal and a helper and Marilou Grenier turned aside 20 shots for the shutout. Chloe Primerano made more history in the victory; with her assist on Zablocki’s second goal, the Canadian captain became the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history (19 points).

Japan dropped a heart-breaker in its prelim finale, falling 5-4 to Sweden on Tuesday. Koko Ruike and Nanaho Yamaguchi finished with a goal and an assist apiece for the Japanese, who led 3-1 early in the second period and 4-3 with eight minutes to go but couldn’t find the win column.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Japanese have met just once before at U18 Women’s Worlds, in the opener of the 2014 tournament in Budapest. In that one, Victoria Bach had two goals and an assist, Sarah Potomak added a goal and two helpers, and Lauren Wildfang chipped in with three assists as Canada outshot Japan 65-22 in a 7-1 win.

What to Watch

Zablocki had three goals in as many prelim games, picking up right where she left off a year ago in Zug, when she posted seven points (2-5—7) in six games as part of Canada’s bronze medal-winning contingent. In between, she had a 2024 to remember. The Prince Albert native earned MVP honours at the Esso Cup, co-leading the tournament with 11 points (8-3—11) in seven games while leading the Regina Rebels to their first national title, and then she was named Top Forward at the U18 Women’s National Championship, recording five points (3-2—5) in six games while helping Saskatchewan to a spot in the bronze medal game.

Youth is the name of the game for the Japanese, who ice the youngest roster in the tournament in Vantaa. Only two players – goaltender Haruka Kuromaru and forward Hina Fukuyama – are in their final year of U18 eligibility, meaning a whopping 21 can return for the 2026 tournament. (Canada, by comparison, has 15 players finishing their eligibility this year.) Offence was hard to find in the prelims for the Asian side; they scored only six goals in three games, with four of them coming against the Swedes (and three of those in a span of just over six minutes late in the first period and early in the second). Nana Akimoto – one of Japan’s 11 15-year-olds – was the lone skater to record more than one goal (she had two).

A Look Back

As mentioned above, just the one previous meeting, 11 years ago in Hungary.

All-time record: Canada leads 1-0
Canada goals: 7
Japan goals: 1

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Czechia

Tuesday, January 7 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Preliminary Round

Jason La Rose
|
January 07, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. CZECHIA (JAN. 7)

Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team closes out the preliminary round Tuesday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, facing off against Czechia with first place in Group B on the line.

Last Game

Canada made it two wins in as many days Sunday, beating Switzerland 5-1. Dorothy Copetti led the charge with a pair of goals as the Canadians took control with a four-goal second period. Sara Manness put together her second-straight two-point effort – scoring once and adding an assist – and Maxine Cimoroni chipped in with two helpers. Chloe Primerano scored her second goal of the tournament, pulling even with Jincy Dunne and Brigette Lacquette as the highest-scoring defender in U18 Women’s Worlds history.

The Czechs stayed unbeaten by doubling up Slovakia 6-3 on Sunday. Linda Vocetkova scored twice in the first period – two of Czechia’s 23 shots in the opening frame – while Barbora Proskova added a goal and two assists to help the Czechs erase a 3-2 second-period deficit.

Last Meeting

The Canadians and Czechs last clashed a year ago in the semifinals in Zug, with Czechia securing a stunning 4-2 victory – its first over Canada at any level of international women’s hockey. Primerano and Stryker Zablocki scored to erase a two-goal lead early in the third period, but the Canadians – who came into the game unbeaten and having outscored opponents 35-1 – missed out on the gold medal game for the first time ever.

What to Watch

Sara Manness has been a force on the top line for Canada, scoring a goal and setting up three others through two games to sit second in tournament scoring alongside linemate Maxine Cimoroni. The MVP of the 2023 National Women’s Under-18 Championship, Manness has had an international coming-out party in Vantaa; she had just six points in 14 games wearing the Maple Leaf prior to arriving in Finland, but earned an assist in the pre-tournament win over the host country , picked up two helpers in the tournament-opening victory over Slovakia and had a goal and an assist against the Swiss. She also gets to do it alongside twin sister Kate; the sisters are the fifth set of first siblings to represent Canada at the U18 Women’s Worlds, but the first to do it together.

For the Czechs, Julia Jebouskova has done the heavy lifting up front. The 16-year-old, who was held off the scoresheet across six games at last year’s U18 Women’s Worlds, netted the overtime winner in the tournament opener against Switzerland before chipping in a goal and an assist to help Czechia pull away from Slovakia on Sunday. Jebouskova has been a scoring machine this season with the U19 program at Shattuck-St. Mary’s in Minnesota, potting 22 goals (and adding 12 assists) in 25 games.

A Look Back

This is meeting No. 9 between the Canadians and Czechs, with Canada taking seven of the first eight and outscoring Czechia 60-9.

A pair of future Olympic gold medallists made their marks in the first matchup at the inaugural U18 Women’s Worlds in 2008; Marie-Philip Poulin and Natalie Spooner recorded a hat trick apiece in an 11-2 Canadian win in Calgary. Poulin finished with five points in that win, still one of just six such performances by a Canadian in tournament history.

All-time record: Canada leads 7-1
Canada goals: 60
Czechia goals: 9

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Opening face-off between Canada and the United States at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

11 days in Ottawa, by the numbers

A facts-and-figures look at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, on and off the ice

Shannon Coulter
|
January 06, 2025

The 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship officially wrapped up on Sunday after 11 days of competition in the nation’s capital.

Fans at home watching on TSN see the action on the ice, but the action behind the scenes is crucial to help welcome the world to what is one of the most-watched tournaments on the international hockey calendar.

What exactly goes into – and comes out of – hosting the World Juniors? Let’s look at the numbers:

7: Communities in the Ottawa area that hosted pre-tournament games – Arnprior, Belleville, Brockville, Cornwall, Hawkesbury, Kingston and Ottawa.

10: Indigenous artists whose work was on display for Player of the Game awards, volunteer belt bags and a special commemorative jersey.

23: Officials assigned to work the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, representing nine countries – Finland (4), United States (4), Canada (3), Sweden (3), Czechia (2), Denmark (2), Latvia (2), Slovakia (2) and Switzerland (1).

26: People from 14 different countries who took the Oath of Citizenship to become Canadian citizens ahead of Canada’s pre-tournament game against Czechia.

27: Partners who supported Hockey Canada and the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.

28: Shooters in the bronze medal game shootout between Czechia and Sweden, the longest in International Ice Hockey Federation history. Goaltenders Michael Hrabal and Marcus Gidlof combined for 23 saves before Eduard Sale scored the winner for the Czechs in the 14th round.

76: Unique puck stacks, created by team services volunteers, ahead of practices.

116: Minor hockey players who participated in the event as flag bearers and Esso Player of the Game presenters in pre- and post-game ceremonies.

121: Accredited media members from 11 different countries, plus 36 accredited photographers.

193: Goals scored in the tournament. The highest single-game total was 16, when Czechia topped Kazakhstan 14-2, while the lowest total was three, done three times (Switzerland vs. Slovakia – 2-1; Canada vs. Germany – 3-0; and Finland vs. Latvia – 3-0).

322: Volunteers who gave their time during the tournament through the TELUS volunteer program.

400: Water jugs consumed throughout the tournament by teams, volunteers and staff.

1,094: Social media posts sent across all Hockey Canada platforms (X, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) from Dec. 19 (when pre-tournament play started) through Jan. 5. The posts earned 45,217,677 impressions and 2,000,899 engagements.

1,964: Minutes of hockey played during the tournament. Seven games went beyond 60 minutes, including the Finland-Sweden semifinal and both medal games. It’s the third time in the last four years that the gold medal game has required overtime.

4,000+: Single-game tickets donated to local community and Indigenous groups, including 150 kids each from the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and Mohawks of Akwesasne who attended a game. As well, 150 newcomers experienced their first hockey game during the tournament.

6,177: Attendance for the relegation-round game between Germany and Kazakhstan in Ottawa on Jan. 2, making it one of the highest-attended relegation games in World Juniors history.

15,000: Meals saved through the Tablée des Chefs food recovery program, as a part of the event’s sustainability initiatives. This effort by the two main venues and two hotels prevented more than 6,842 pounds (three tons) of food from going to waste.

16,700+: Event packages sold between both venues. In total, 13,200 event packages were sold for Canadian Tire Centre and 3,532 packages were sold for TD Place.

80,000+: Attendance for Fan Fest, which was hosted at the historic Aberdeen Pavilion from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. The free event featured close to 50 different community activations, including live watch parties for World Juniors games, free skates, fireworks on New Year’s Eve, a Stanley Cup visit and a meet and greet with the PWHL’s Ottawa Charge. It also included live performances from 10 live bands and DJs.

296,895: Official attendance for all 29 games at the Canadian Tire Centre and TD Place, the eighth-highest total in World Juniors history. The number grows to more than 325,000 when Canada’s three pre-tournament games in Ottawa are included.

3,208,095: Amount, in dollars, generated from Hockey Canada 50/50 ticket sales across all 10 provinces and the Northwest Territories.

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Switzerland

Sunday, January 5 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Preliminary Round

Jason La Rose
|
January 05, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SWITZERLAND (JAN. 5)

Coming off a tournament-opening victory, Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team is right back on the ice Sunday at the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, taking on Switzerland in Group B action.

Last Game

Canada opened its preliminary-round schedule with a 6-2 win over Slovakia on Saturday. Despite outshooting the Slovaks 60-7, the game was even at 2-2 heading to the third period before B.C.-born blue-liners Danica Maynard and Chloe Primerano scored 2:11 apart to kick-start the Canadian offence. Maxine Cimoroni finished with a goal and an assist, while Sara Manness and Caileigh Tiller chipped in with two assists apiece.

The Swiss lost a nail-biter in their opener, falling 2-1 in overtime to Czechia on Saturday. Sonja Inkamp gave Switzerland the lead seven minutes into the third period, only for the Czechs to pull even with 2:08 left and win it in overtime. Amaya Iseli was terrific between the pipes, finishing with 36 saves.

Last Meeting

It was a quarterfinal clash a year ago in Zug, with Canada posting a 6-0 victory over the tournament hosts. Sienna D’Alessandro scored a pair of goals, Gracie Graham added a goal and two assists and Primerano continued her romp through the record books with three helpers. Rhyah Stewart was only required to turn away three shots as the Canadians finished with a one-sided 54-3 edge in shots on goal.

What to Watch

Cimoroni was a member of Canada’s bronze medal-winning roster a year ago, recording three points in six games to help the Canadians find the podium. The Toronto product almost matched those numbers in the first period Saturday, helping set up Hayley McDonald for Canada’s first goal of the tournament before scoring herself late in the opening frame. Cimoroni is having a season to remember; after leading Canada with five points (2-3—5) in the three-game summer series against the U.S., the Ohio State commit took home Most Valuable Player honours from the U18 National Women’s Championship in November while helping Ontario Red to another gold medal. She also ranks fifth in OWHA U22 Elite scoring, posting 32 points (17-15—32) in 20 games with the Mississauga Hurricanes.

It was tough to miss Inkamp on Saturday, if only because she never seemed to leave the ice. The Swiss defender played 29:10 in the overtime loss to the Czechs, almost two minutes than any other player. Back for her third U18 Women’s Worlds, Inkamp has spent parts of the last two seasons in the Women’s League, the top league in Switzerland, seeing time with HC Ambri-Piotta last season before getting into six games with the ZSC Lions this year. Inkamp is also somewhat of a rarity on the Swiss roster – a 2007-born player. Switzerland ices one of the youngest rosters in the tournament, with just nine players born in 2007. That’s the second-fewest behind only Japan, which has only two.

A Look Back

This is just the fifth meeting between the Canadians and Swiss, and the fourth to come in the prelims. Canada is perfect through the first four, outscoring Switzerland 44-3.

The first matchup came at the 2009 tournament in Germany; Casandra Langan made history in that one, becoming the first Canadian to score four goals in a game as part of a 16-1 win. Jamie Lee Rattray added a hat trick of her own, while Jessica Wong chipped in with two goals and an assist.

All-time record: Canada leads 4-0
Canada goals: 44
Switzerland goals: 3

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U18 Women’s Worlds Preview: Canada vs. Slovakia

Saturday, January 4 | 1:30 p.m. ET | Vantaa, Finland | Preliminary Round

Jason La Rose
|
January 04, 2025

GAME NOTES: CANADA VS. SLOVAKIA (JAN. 4)

The quest for an eighth gold medal at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship begins Saturday as Canada’s National Women's Under-18 Team opens the 2025 tournament against Slovakia at Tikkurila Arena.

Last Game

Canada warmed up for the world championship with a 7-0 win over host Finland in pre-tournament action on New Year’s Day. Stryker Zablocki led the offence with two goals and an assist, Kate Manness and Sofia Ismael chipped in with one of each, and Marilou Grenier (14 saves) and Amelia Wilkinson (three saves) combined for the shutout.

The Slovaks were last in action on Dec. 15, closing out the Four Nations Tournament in Füssen, Germany, with a 3-2 loss to Hungary. Blanka Bereczkiova and Vanessa Eibenova scored the goals for Slovakia, which was four minutes away from a tournament title before the Hungarians rallied late.

Last Meeting

Canada and Slovakia have met just once, a quarterfinal matchup at the 2022 U18 Women’s Worlds. Balanced scoring was the name of the game in Wisconsin; seven different players scored goals and 14 recorded points in a 7-0 Canadian win. Four players – Madison Chantler, Ava Murphy, Karel Préfontaine and Mckenna Van Gelder – produced a goal and an assist each, and Mari Pietersen needed to make just five saves for the shutout.

What to Watch

Two words: Chloe Primerano. The 18-year-old (she turned 18 on Thursday) introduced herself to the hockey world with a beautiful shootout winner to help Canada’s National Women’s Team win Game 2 of the Rivalry Series in November, and now Primerano turns her attention back to her continued assault on the Team Canada record book at the U18 level. Already the highest-scoring defender in National Women’s Under-18 Team history, her assist in the pre-tournament win leaves her only eight points behind Caitlin Kraemer for the all-time scoring mark, and seven helpers behind Erin Ambrose. The North Vancouver, B.C., product also needs 11 points to surpass Marie-Philip Poulin as Canada’s all-time leading scorer at U18 Women’s Worlds (she led the tournament with 16 points in 2024). She’s also only three points from becoming the leading scorer among defenders in tournament history, trailing only Brigette Lacquette and Jincy Dunne.

The Slovaks have a phenom of their own in Nela Lopusanova, who is back for her third appearance at the U18 Women’s Worlds. She burst onto the scene as a 14-year-old in 2023, winning MVP honours with a tournament-leading 12 points (9-3—12) in five games, including a ‘Michigan’ goal. Most recently, she dominated at the Olympic qualifying tournament on home ice in Piestany in mid-December; Lopusanova helped Slovakia reach the final qualifying tournament after posting 18 points – 11 of them goals – in just three games, highlighted by four-goal games in wins over Kazakhstan and Slovenia. A University of Wisconsin commit for the 2026-27 season, Lopusanova is plying her trade this season with Bishop Kearney High School in Rochester, New York, where she’s a teammate of Canadian forward Stryker Zablocki. Oh, and she is still eligible for one more U18 tournament in 2026.

A Look Back

Not much more to talk about than what we mentioned above – one game, one win.

All-time record: Canada leads 1-0
Canada goals: 7
Slovakia goals: 0

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For more information:

Esther Madziya
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 284-6484 

[email protected] 

Spencer Sharkey
Manager, Communications
Hockey Canada

(403) 777-4567

[email protected]

Jeremy Knight
Manager, Corporate Communications
Hockey Canada

(647) 251-9738

[email protected]

Photos
Videos
2024-25 NWT: CAN 3 – USA 1 (Game 5)
Gardiner scored the GWG with 6:44 left, giving Canada the series win.
2024-25 NWT: USA 2 – CAN 1 SO (Game 4)
Turnbull tied it late, but Canada fell to the U.S. in a shootout.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 3 – USA 0 (Gold Medal)
Grenier made 14 saves to backstop Canada to its eighth U18 gold medal.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 4 – CZE 2 (Semifinal)
Zablocki and Tiller had 1G 1A apiece to send Canada to play for gold.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 17 – JPN 0 (Quarterfinal)
Zablocki and Cimoroni had 3G 2A each to help Canada into the semis.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 6 – SVK 2 (Preliminary)
Canada pulled away in the third period to earn an opening-game win.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – CZE 0 (Preliminary)
Grenier made 20 saves to backstop Canada to a perfect prelims.
2025 U18WWC: CAN 5 – SUI 1 (Preliminary)
Copetti scored twice to help Canada to a victory over the Swiss.
2025 WJC: CZE 4 – CAN 3 (Quarterfinal)
Nadeau tied it with 4:18 left, but Canada was eliminated by the Czechs.
2025 WJC: USA 4 – CAN 1 (Preliminary)
Nadeau scored on a third-period PP, but Canada fell to the Americans.
2024 Spengler Cup: STR 4 – CAN 2 (Semifinal)
Carr scored 2G, but Canada fell to the Tigers in the Spengler semis.
2025 WJC: CAN 3 – GER 0 (Preliminary)
George made 25 saves for the SO to help Canada blank the Germans.
Schedule
HC Logo
Lloydminster, AB, Canada
Date: Apr 20 to 26
HC Logo
The Fraser Valley, BC, Canada
Date: Apr 21 to 27
HC Logo
Calgary , ON, Canada
Date: May 8 to 18
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Stockholm, SWE & Herning, DEN
Date: May 9 to 25