Canada Opens Women's Hockey Championships with Impressive Victory Over Finland

CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic — April 10, 2025

Canada’s women’s hockey team began its quest to defend its title at the Women's World Championships with a dominant 5-0 victory over Finland on Thursday. This match marked an impressive start for Canada as they aim for their 14th championship title.

Strong Performance by Gardiner and Team

Jennifer Gardiner led the offensive effort, scoring two goals and providing an assist. Ella Shelton also contributed significantly with a goal and an assist. Additionally, captain Marie-Philip Poulin and Emma Maltais each scored, showcasing the team’s depth and skill. This strong performance provides a solid boost of confidence for the Canadian squad.

In the first period, Gardiner opened the scoring at the 6:02 mark with a shot from the left circle. Canada quickly piled on the pressure, taking a commanding 4-0 lead by the end of the second period. Gardiner netted her second goal just 18 seconds into the second period from a tight angle, prompting Finland to replace goaltender Emilia Kyrkko.

"I could not have imagined a better start to my tournament," Gardiner commented after her impressive debut on this international stage.

Canada's Shutout Victory

Canada's defense, backed by goaltender Kristen Campbell, also played a crucial role, with Campbell turning away 24 shots to secure a shutout. The dominant defensive and offensive performance highlighted the gap between the top teams and the rest of the competition.

Earlier in the tournament, Finland faced a setback with a 7-1 loss to the United States, indicating their struggle against some of the tournament favorites. With this loss, Finnish hopes were dashed once again as they looked to recover.

Looking Ahead

Canada's next matchup is against Switzerland on Friday, where they aim to maintain their winning momentum.

In other matches, Sweden secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory against newcomer Hungary, with Linnea Johansson opening the scoring late in the second period. Sweden, which defeated Germany 5-2 in their first game, showed solid form early in the tournament.

Japan also made headlines, defeating Norway 5-2. Mei Miura stood out with a goal and an assist, contributing to Japan's strong showing in their Group B matchup.

The 12-day, 10-nation tournament represents a critical opportunity for teams to assess their preparedness for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, making each game essential for building momentum and honing strategies.

As the tournament progresses, anticipation grows for Canada's continued performance as they strive for yet another world championship title.