CANADA’S NATIONAL WOMEN’S UNDER-18 TEAM WINS GOLD MEDAL AT 2012 IIHF U18 ICE HOCKEY WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ZLIN, Czech Republic – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team has won the gold medal at the 2012 IIHF U18 Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, blanking the United States 3-0 on Saturday night at PSG Arena.
Alexis Crossley (Halifax, N.S./Shattuck-St. Mary’s, U.S. Prep) scored the game-winner off a rebound at 9:04 of the first period, Sarah Lefort (Ormstown, Que./Stanstead College, NAPHA) made it 2-0 on a power play five minutes later and Cydney Roesler (Stittsville, Ont./Ottawa, PWHL) capped it off for Canada at on another power play late in the third, while Emerence Maschmeyer (Bruderheim, Alta./Lloydminster, AJHL) made 28 saves for the shutout.
Earlier Saturday, Sweden defeated Germany 4-1 to take the bronze medal at the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship, which started Dec. 31 and ran through today in Prerov and Zlin, Czech Republic.
The last and only other time Canada won gold since the tournament’s inception five years ago was at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship in Chicago, Ill., where the Canadians beat the United States 5-4 in overtime. Canada claimed silver in 2008 in Calgary, Alta., 2009 in Fà¼ssen, Germany, and 2011 in Stockholm, Sweden. The Canadians have faced their American rivals in all five gold medal games.
Canada’s Erin Ambrose (Keswick, Ont./Toronto, PWHL) was named Best Defenceman, as selected by the IIHF directorate, while Germany’s Franziska Albl was named Best Goaltender and Alex Carpenter of the U.S. was named Best Forward. The top three Canadian players, as selected by the IIHF directorate, were Ambrose, Cayley Mercer (Exeter, Ont./Bluewater, PWHL) and Roesler.
In preliminary round action, Canada defeated Switzerland 13-1 on Saturday, Germany 6-0 on Sunday and Finland 7-0 on Tuesday, earning a bye straight to semifinals, where Canada shut out Sweden 7-0 on Friday night.
“Each and every player and staff member on this team is truly golden,” said head coach Pierre Alain. “They have all represented Canada with class, both on and off the ice, and are truly deserving of this year’s world championship.”
Players and staff with Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team will be flying home Sunday, Jan. 8. The following flight arrival information is subject to change:
- Edmonton, Alta., at 5:10 p.m. MT (AC127) – Emerence Maschmeyer
Players and staff not listed about are scheduled to land with the team in Toronto, Ont., at 7:40 a.m. ET and will be driving or returning over the coming days to their final destinations.
Kristen Lipscombe, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of communications, has been on site in the Czech Republic for the 2012 IIHF Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship. Please contact her for any interview requests at +4407714183062 before Jan. 8, (403) 826-4819 or klipscombe@hockeycanada.ca.