Canada’s women’s hockey team is heading into the semifinals of the world championship with a strong performance against Sweden. In a heavy quarterfinal match filled with collisions and grinding checks, Canada emerged victorious with a 5-1 win.
Defender Renata Fast scored twice for Canada, leading the team to victory alongside goals from Laura Stacey, Natalie Spooner, and Jaime Bourbonnais. Despite the win, Canadian head coach Troy Ryan emphasized that there are still areas for improvement as they head into the next round.
The game was not without controversy, as a third-period call against Sweden shifted the momentum in Canada’s favor. The Swedes put up a tough fight, but ultimately fell short after a cross-checking penalty and two quick goals sealed the win for Canada.
While Canada’s goal production has been spread out among a dozen different players in the tournament, their special teams performance has been lacking. The team gave up their first power-play goal of the tournament and struggled to capitalize on their own power-play opportunities.
Despite the challenges, Canada’s goalkeeper Emerance Maschmeyer put on a strong performance with 17 saves, helping secure the win for her team. With a spot in the semifinals secured, Canada is focused on tightening up their game and continuing their quest for the championship title.