In 2023, the Canadians were defeated at home by the Americans. A year later, they returned the favor to their rivals: they had the upper hand 6-5 in overtime, thus reclaiming the title of world champions. All… on American soil.
“I think it’s one of the craziest games I’ve played in my career,” said Ann-Renée Desbiens on RDS a few seconds after the victory.
“Crazy” is the perfect adjective to describe this offensive festival of 11 goals, which ended in extra time. It was Danielle Serdachny, this young 22-year-old attacker who currently plays in the NCAA, who closed the debate in overtime by scoring on the power play.
A few seconds later, helmets, gloves and sticks littered the ice rink and the Canadians showed their most beautiful smiles.
Honestly, what’s more fun to watch than a close-as-nails final between Canada and the United States?
As is the norm for a high-stakes meeting between these two rival teams, the pace was frantic from start to finish. The Canadians took a one-goal lead three times and the Americans twice. Every time one team scored, the other responded. Hats off, by the way, to whoever was able to predict the outcome of this match.
PHOTO ADRIAN KRAUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Marie-Philip Poulin was dominant in the final with two goals scored at crucial moments.
As we are accustomed to in such games, Marie-Philip Poulin was dominant. Arriving in the final, the 33-year-old veteran had not scored a single goal in the tournament – it must be said that she had missed the last three matches of the Montreal LPHF team due to an injury whose nature was not been made public.
On Sunday, she scored twice at crucial moments. Her first allowed the team to tie the game 3-3 and her second gave the Canadians a 5-4 lead, less than two minutes after they made it 4-4.
In an interview with RDS on the ice, the one we nickname Captain Clutch for exactly this kind of performance exuded the same ecstasy as every time she lifts the big trophy.
“Cuddle!” exclaimed the Quebecer, a big smile on her lips. It’s such a process! Game by game… Sometimes things don’t go your way. […] But when you see girls like that, excited, ah… It feels good! »
Another, and another!
Eleven goals were therefore scored, despite the presence of two of the best goalkeepers in front of the net. Among the Canadians, we found Ann-Renée Desbiens, now the Canadian goalkeeper with the most world championship victories in history. Among the Americans, we found Aerin Frankel, who had a sensational tournament allowing only three goals in five games. On Sunday, she conceded double that total in a single match.
PHOTO ADRIAN KRAUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ann-Renée Desbiens is now the Canadian goalkeeper with the most world championship victories.
This shows the talent possessed by the two teams, who faced each other in the final for a 22e times in 23 women’s world championships.
The match was very divided. Starting with a first period with the red and white advantage. Everything was there for Troy Ryan’s troop: the forecheck, the speed, the discipline, the precision of the passes… After only six minutes of play, Erin Ambrose opened the scoring.
But we all knew it was far, far from over.
As it happened, less than two minutes later, young 20-year-old forward Laila Edwards recovered the puck in the neutral zone before running at full speed and beating Desbiens with a shot over the left shoulder.
In the second period, the Canadians made a Habs of their own. After taking a 2-1 lead through Julia Gosling, they had to bring out their Sunday defensive game to counter the Americans with new energy. In a few minutes, Megan Keller and Alex Carpenter made it 2-2, then 3-2 for the United States.
Poulin was responsible for equalizing with less than two minutes remaining in the second period. A perfect shot into the top of the net.
PHOTO ADRIAN KRAUS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alex Carpenter and Renata Fast battle for the puck
In the third period, the rivals exchanged goals. Hilary Knight made it 4-3, then Emily Clark tied it. Poulin scored again, but Caroline Harvey brought everyone back to square one.
It never stopped!
It was ultimately the Americans who dug their own grave by receiving a penalty in overtime for having too many players on the ice. Serdachny, who was not necessarily having an extraordinary game, played the hero by jumping on a return shot from Erin Ambrose.
sweet revenge
This victory, as we said at the beginning of this paper, is sweet revenge for the Canadians, who were beaten 6-3 in front of their fans last year.
“We had it in our heads. That was our motivation,” Poulin told RDS.
Of course, a victory for Canada in the final against the United States is nothing new; it’s number 13e time it happens.
Do you know what’s different, though?
This is because the vast majority of these players will leave tomorrow for Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Minnesota, Ottawa or New York… where they will join their respective teams.