Canada dominated Switzerland in their opening game at the Under-18 Women’s World Championship with a commanding 9-0 victory. The Canadian team showcased their strength early on, scoring five goals in the first period. Assistant captain Alida Korte stood out with two goals and an assist, earning the player of the game title in the preliminary round. Rachel Piggott contributed with a goal and two assists, while Kendall Doiron, Laurie Aubin, and Adrianna Milani each added a goal and an assist to the scoreboard.
Additional goals came from Caileigh Tiller, Sofia Ismael, and Hayley McDonald. Canada’s netminder, Léa-Rose Charrois, made 11 saves to secure a shutout for the team. Head coach Vicky Sunohara expressed satisfaction with the team’s depth and emphasized the importance of utilizing all players in the upcoming matches.
The Canadian team outshot Switzerland 51-11 during the game held at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Centre in Sydney, N.S. Despite a slow start, Sunohara commended the team for quickly finding their rhythm. She highlighted the focus on self-improvement and teamwork, emphasizing the need for consistent performance throughout the entire game.
Canada, positioned in Group A alongside Sweden, Hungary, and Switzerland, will face Hungary next. Sweden, who defeated Hungary 4-1, currently shares the lead with Canada in the group standings. Players like Piggott emphasized the team’s dedication to a strong defensive strategy, emphasizing the importance of maintaining possession and creating scoring opportunities.
In other Group B matchups, the United States triumphed over Slovakia with a 13-0 win, while Czechia dominated Finland with a 9-1 victory, showcasing strong performances across the board at the championship.