AP NEWS,Canada blasts Finland 8-1 to face the US in another women’s ice hockey worlds final.see more details.
Here are the detailed AP News insights into Canada’s 8–1 semifinal thrashing of Finland, which set up another classic showdown with the U.S. in the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship final, followed by what unfolded in the gold-medal game.
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🥅 Canada vs. Finland – Semifinal Recap
In the semifinal on April 19, 2025, Team Canada dominated Finland with an overwhelming 8–1 victory to secure their spot in another gold‑medal game against arch‑rival the United States .
Key Highlights:
Captain Marie‑Philip Poulin notched her 87th career World Championship point, surpassing Hayley Wickenheiser as the most prolific Canadian scorer in women’s worlds history .
Claire Thompson contributed with a goal and two assists. Ella Shelton, Emily Clark, and Sophie Jaques each scored, while Renata Fast added three assists to the tally .
Daryl Watts scored twice in the second period. However, she was ejected in the third period due to an illegal hit on Finland’s captain, Michelle Karvinen .
Finland’s lone goal came from Michelle Karvinen early on, but Canada responded emphatically and never looked back .
Canada’s lopsided win set the stage for yet another showdown between the two North American powerhouses. They have now met in the gold-medal game at 23 of the 24 Women’s Worlds since its inception in 1990, underscoring the depth of the rivalry .
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🏁 Final: USA vs. Canada – A Thrilling Overtime Classic
In the gold-medal game on April 20, 2025, the United States and Canada delivered one of the most dramatic finals in recent memory, with Team USA edging Canada 4–3 in overtime to claim the world title for the 11th time .
Game Summary:
Tessa Janecke emerged as the hero, scoring the golden goal at 17:06 of the three-on-three overtime, off a precise feed from Taylor Heise, clinching the victory for the U.S. .
The regulation period was intensely competitive: after a scoreless first period, the second period exploded with four goals in just over two minutes. The U.S. surged ahead 2–0 with goals from Caroline Harvey (who celebrated by miming a phone) and Abbey Murphy. Canada quickly tied it back with strikes from Danielle Serdachny and Jennifer Gardiner .
In the third period, Taylor Heise converted a U.S. power-play goal to make it 3–2. Undeterred, Canada tied it late via Sarah Fillier, forcing the sudden-death overtime .
The U.S. overcame adversity after losing their starting goalie Aerin Frankel to injury in the third period. Backup Gwyneth Philips made critical stops in OT, preserving the opportunity for Janecke’s winning puck .
The win also exacted sweet revenge: Canada had prevailed 6–5 in overtime just one year earlier in the 2024 Worlds final. With this result, the U.S. pulled closer to Canada’s record 13 golds .
Despite the loss, Renata Fast earned player-of-the-game honors, and Marie‑Philip Poulin was named Player of the Tournament, highlighting her leadership and elite performance throughout the event .
Finland captured bronze, defeating host Czech Republic 4–3 in overtime, rounding out a memorable tournament in Ceske Budejovice, Czechia, which shattered attendance records with 122,331 fans in total .
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📊 Tournament Significance & Rivalry Context
Canada vs. USA remains the defining rivalry in women’s international hockey. Meeting in 23 of 24 World Championship finals illustrates how consistently elite both programs have been over more than three decades .
The 2025 tournament featured extreme drama and pace: rapid scoring sprees, momentum swings, comebacks, and a thrilling sudden-death overtime finish.
Team USA’s triumph set the tone as they look ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, providing confidence and momentum .
Canada’s semifinals dominance—especially the 8–1 blowout—demonstrated they still possess immense offensive firepower, even if they fell just short at the final hurdle.
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🔚 Final Takeaways
Canada’s commanding 8–1 semifinal win over Finland reinforced their status as a top-tier team and secured yet another meeting with their fiercest rival.
The gold-medal thriller, won by the U.S. in overtime, delivered one of the most memorable conclusions in Women’s World Championship history.
Tessa Janecke, Taylor Heise, Caroline Harvey, Abbey Murphy, Sarah Fillier, Marie‑Philip Poulin, and Renata Fast all stood out as star players.
Team USA now has 11 world titles, narrowing the gap on Canada’s 13, and set a strong tone for the Olympic cycle ahead.
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