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Canada defeats U.S. to capture gold at women's hockey worlds – CBC Sports

Published

2 years ago

September 5, 2022

Canada had to find a different way to win a women’s world hockey title after its Olympic triumph earlier this year and world championship gold a year ago.

This edition was a work in progress throughout the tournament in Denmark, but Canada played its best game of the tournament in Sunday’s 2-1 win over archrival U.S. in the final.

The Canadian women won their third major international title in the span of a year after beating the U.S. 3-2 for Olympic gold in February in Beijing, and 3-2 in overtime in the 2021 world championship final just over a year ago.

“It wasn’t smooth. It looked a lot different from our Olympic win and our last world championship win, but I think we’re really reassured when things aren’t as smooth we can find different ways to win,” Canadian forward Brianne Jenner said. “We battled it out and got the job done.”

WATCH | Jenner leads Canada past U.S. for world title:

Canada edges United States for world championship gold medal

12 hours ago

Duration 2:39

Oakville, Ont.’s Brianne Jenner scored both of Canada’s goals en route to a 2-1 victory over their international rivals in the tournament final.

After a quiet tournament in the scoring department, Jenner scored two second-period goals within a minute of each other Sunday.

Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens was the calm eye of the storm in the third as the U.S. pushed furiously for an equalizer.

The Canadians were outshot 12-6 in the third period, but they blocked shots with abandon over the final two minutes when the U.S. pulled Nicole Hensley for an extra attacker.

Desbiens made 20 saves for the win, while Hensley stopped 17 shots.

“I think coming into this tournament, we had the confidence that we were the best team in the world,” Canadian forward Sarah Nurse said.

“We really wanted to show that. Winning three gold medals in one year is so special and something I don’t know we’ll ever be able to do again, but it just shows how hard our program has worked, where we are today.”

It’s Canada’s 12th gold medal at the tournament and the first time in 18 years they have won back-to-back world titles.

Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin receives the championship trophy after the gold-medal game on Sunday in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via The Associated Press)

Finding their form

Canada lost 5-2 in the preliminary round to a U.S. team that appeared ready to reclaim women’s hockey supremacy.

Both Canada and the U.S. returned 18 players from their Olympic rosters.

The Americans seemed to absorb what lineup changes there were quicker than the Canadians, who were juggling forward line combinations throughout the tournament in an effort to find chemistry.

Canada’s execution in an 8-1 semifinal win over the Swiss indicated the defending champions were finding their form.

But the U.S. went undefeated into the final with a plus-47 goal differential compared to Canada’s plus-22, whereas Canada had boasted the high-octane offence in Beijing.

“What we were able to accomplish at the Olympics was extremely special,” Jenner said. “To come in six months after an Olympics, to be able to have a summer of training and get the focus back and try to defend a world title is not easy.

“I think this was one of the toughest ones and we’re feeling pretty good we found a way to get it done.’

????‍♀️<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensWorlds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WomensWorlds</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/adesbiens30?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@adesbiens30</a> <a href=”https://t.co/2IHnuq3OJL”>pic.twitter.com/2IHnuq3OJL</a>

—@HockeyCanada

In addition to moving the puck quicker and cleaner than it did in the loss to the U.S., Canada also defended more tenaciously in the box between and below the faceoff dots.

Canada’s power play went 0-for-2 in the first period before Jenner converted a third chance in the second. The U.S. went 1-for-3 with a man advantage over the back half of the game.

U.S. forward Abby Roque, who scored her team-leading fourth power-play goal of the tournament with less than a minute to play in the second period, accused the Canadians of diving.

“I think they have lots of players who dive around,” Roque said. “I think it’s ridiculous. It’s not the way to play hockey. We play a tough, disciplined game. That’s how we are.

“We want to play physical like hockey should be and they’ve got a lot of players who jump into the boards.”

Roque was born in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, but she is also a member of the Wahnapitae First Nation, near Sudbury, Ont.

Canada and the U.S. have met in the final of all but one world championship since the inaugural tournament in Ottawa in 1990.

Canadian fans cheer on the national women’s hockey team after the gold-medal victory on Sunday in Herning, Denmark. (Bo Amstrup/Ritzau Scanpix via The Associated Press)

The U.S. won five straight world titles, as well as Olympic gold in 2018, before Canada’s women heaved hard over the last year on the rope in the tug of war that’s been their rivalry.

“We’ve got to find a way to flip the script,” U.S. captain Kendall Coyne Schofield said.

Jenner’s nine goals in Beijing matched an Olympic tournament record, but the veteran didn’t score in the world championship until Saturday’s semifinal.

“I think my shot percentage was not great earlier in the tournament, but I just kept telling myself if you’re creating chances and have good habits and do something positive when you’re out there, when you work hard sometimes you’re rewarded in the end,” she said.

Start things off with a snipe! ????<a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/WomensWorlds?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#WomensWorlds</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/briannejenner?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@briannejenner</a> <a href=”https://t.co/WKOMASJVyY”>pic.twitter.com/WKOMASJVyY</a>

—@HockeyCanada

The 2021 world championship was delayed to August because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The International Ice Hockey Federation introducing a top-tier women’s championship in the same year as the Olympic Games for the first time compressed three major tournaments into just over 12 months.

“Not normal,” said Canadian head coach Troy Ryan, who will coach the Canadian women through to the 2026 Olympic Games.

“I don’t think you usually get three times to peak. It can be exhausting. I feel for this group. They found grit. They’re exhausted without a doubt. You can see it emotionally. They’re drained trying to get up to their top level three times. They deserve so much credit for just sticking with it.”

The 2023 women’s championship will be held in Canada in a city yet to be announced, followed by the U.S. hosting it in 2024. Canada and the United States will also square off in a seven-game Rivalry Series this winter.

The 10-country field in Denmark was minus Russia after it was barred by the IIHF from international tournaments for that country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Czech Republic reached the final four and the podium for the first time Sunday beating Switzerland 4-2 for the bronze medal. The Czechs were coached in Denmark by Calgary’s Carla Macleod, a former Canadian team defender.

WATCH | Canada beats Switzerland in semifinals:

Canada punches ticket to world championship gold medal game

2 days ago

Duration 1:02

The Canadians routed Switzerland 8-1 to advance to the gold medal game against the United States at the IIHF women’s world championship in Denmark.

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

Published

1 day ago

November 8, 2024

Anne Joseph

Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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