The U.S.'s Megan Keller (right) celebrates after scoring the second-period winner in a 2-1 victory over archrival Canada in Group A action at the 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship.
photo: PHOTO: © INTERNATIONAL ICE HOCKEY FEDERATION / ANDREA CARDIN
Sparked offensively by their veteran defenders, the U.S. edged Canada 2-1 to sew up first place in Group A in Ceske Budejovice on Sunday night. Lee Stecklein and Megan Keller scored for the Americans, while goalie Aerin Frankel made 18 saves for the win.
"It felt really good," Stecklein told IIHF.com. "Obviously, a hard game, a close game. They generally are. We're really proud of how our group fought, came together, sorted through some things, and just found a way to win that game."
Forward Laura Stacey replied for Canada.
An enthusiastic crowd of 5,538 came out to watch the world’s two best teams and enjoyed an exciting and combative affair. The U.S. outshot Canada 28-19. Coach John Wroblewski's Americans turned in a strong two-way effort to limit the Canadian offence.
It was a duel between number one goalies. Frankel returned for her second win after ceding place to newcomer Gwyneth Philips in the 4-0 U.S. win over Czechia. Ann-Renee Desbiens got her second straight start for Canada after blanking Switzerland 4-0.
The Canadians are the defending Women’s Worlds champions, having defeated the U.S. 6-5 on Danielle Serdachny’s overtime goal in last year’s gold medal game in Utica, New York. And Canada edged the U.S. 3-2 in the 2022 Olympic gold medal game in Beijing, China. But this night belonged to America.
"The biggest thing was our pass execution, just making plays and not being in a hurry," said Canadian blueliner Jocelyne Larocque. "I think there's times in the offensive zone that we just kind of threw pucks on net."
Both goalies looked sharp early, with Desbiens turning back Abbey Murphy a minute in and Frankel foiling Blayre Turnbull off an odd-man rush.
Shortly after the game’s first penalty to Emma Maltais for an illegal hit expired, Stecklein floated a point shot over Desbiens’ left shoulder for a 1-0 lead at 10:36. The 30-year-old, who stepped away from the national team for a couple of seasons, first appeared at the Women's Worlds in 2013.
Canada’s stars picked up their intensity. Sarah Fillier found Sarah Nurse streaking to the net, but Frankel denied her in tight. Meanwhile, Murphy – known as much for her agitating ways as her offensive gifts – mixed it up with multiple Canadians on the forecheck, getting a vigorous shove from Larocque for her pains.
"Probably not as much physicality as you see in the [PWHL], just because of the differences in what's called," said Canada's Brianne Jenner. "But obviously it's another level when these two teams face off, and definitely fast-paced and probably the most physical we've played."
Kendall Coyne Schofield nearly set up Minnesota Frost teammate Taylor Heise for a second American goal on a 2-on-1 with about a minute left in the opening frame, but Desbiens smartly scooped the puck up with her glove.
Midway through the second period, the Americans exerted pressure during their second power play. Star blueliner Caroline Harvey, who has led this tournament in points two years in a row, rang one off the iron from the centre point.
It was Keller who made it 2-0, picking up the puck in the neutral zone, getting on her horse, and powering into the high slot to beat Desbiens at 12:22.
"I can't say enough good things about Megan Keller," said Stecklein. "Just an awesome all-around defender and an incredible offensive threat, finding her way through quite a few people and getting that shot off. I don't know if I've seen her score a goal like that in a game like this. So that was really fun."
Tempers rose as the period wound down, including Canada's Renata Fast slamming 2024 MVP Laila Edwards to the ice behind the U.S. goal line. After Canada failed to convert on a power play with Britta Curl off for tripping, Stacey had a golden opportunity when she broke in solo with just over a minute before the buzzer. However, Frankel didn't flinch.
"I think we had a really good start to the game and honestly a pretty good end, but I thought our second was a little bit dodgy," Heise said. "But with the long change and getting ourselves used to the ice and playing at such a high pace, I thought we did a good job."
Stacey got another breakaway on a Marie-Philip Poulin feed in the third period and this time made no mistake, squeezing the puck through the U.S. goalie's five-hole at 6:50. Poulin – the lone player, either male or female, to score in four Olympic finals – currently leads the Women's Worlds with five assists and six points.
An effective late U.S. forecheck prevented Canada from getting Desbiens out for the sixth attacker until less than 40 seconds remained in regulation. A streaking Stacey got one more close-in chance, but couldn't convert, and the U.S. celebrated.
"Creating more time in the O-zone would have been good, and getting more bodies in front of Frankel," said Jenner. "She's just a very good goalie, so we've got to make her life a little bit more difficult."
Tight, intense games are the rule between the North American superpowers. In all six of the Olympic finals in which they have met, as well as 17 of the 23 Canada-U.S. Women’s Worlds finals, the game was decided by either one or two goals.
The last time the U.S. won gold was in 2023 in Brampton, Ontario. Captain Hilary Knight led the way with a hat trick in a 6-3 victory.
Both sides are building toward the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy. Dating back to the original 1998 Olympic women’s hockey tournament in Nagano, Japan, Canada has dominated that rivalry with five gold medals (2002, 2006 2010, 2014, 2022) to the U.S.’s two (1998, 2018).
Both Wroblewski and Canadian coach Troy Ryan adjusted their lineups for this showdown. Ace Canadian defender Claire Thompson slotted back in alongside Erin Ambrose after sitting for a game, and Micah Zandee-Hart was scratched.
For the Americans, Lacey Eden took Kirsten Simms’ spot among the forwards. The nifty Simms, notably, scored the 1-0 overtime winner in last year’s Canada-U.S. group game. The 20-year-old more recently made headlines with her late penalty-shot equalizer and sudden-death winner for Wisconsin versus Ohio State in the Frozen Four.
Canada finishes off its Group A slate against host Czechia on Monday, while the Americans face Switzerland on Tuesday.
"The Czech federation has done an amazing job with this tournament," said Jenner after a new European attendance record was set with more than 56,000 spectators to date. "It's a great venue. The fans are loud. They're into it, so it's pretty exciting to be here. They're doing a great job of hosting."
"It felt really good," Stecklein told IIHF.com. "Obviously, a hard game, a close game. They generally are. We're really proud of how our group fought, came together, sorted through some things, and just found a way to win that game."
Forward Laura Stacey replied for Canada.
An enthusiastic crowd of 5,538 came out to watch the world’s two best teams and enjoyed an exciting and combative affair. The U.S. outshot Canada 28-19. Coach John Wroblewski's Americans turned in a strong two-way effort to limit the Canadian offence.
It was a duel between number one goalies. Frankel returned for her second win after ceding place to newcomer Gwyneth Philips in the 4-0 U.S. win over Czechia. Ann-Renee Desbiens got her second straight start for Canada after blanking Switzerland 4-0.
The Canadians are the defending Women’s Worlds champions, having defeated the U.S. 6-5 on Danielle Serdachny’s overtime goal in last year’s gold medal game in Utica, New York. And Canada edged the U.S. 3-2 in the 2022 Olympic gold medal game in Beijing, China. But this night belonged to America.
"The biggest thing was our pass execution, just making plays and not being in a hurry," said Canadian blueliner Jocelyne Larocque. "I think there's times in the offensive zone that we just kind of threw pucks on net."
Both goalies looked sharp early, with Desbiens turning back Abbey Murphy a minute in and Frankel foiling Blayre Turnbull off an odd-man rush.
Shortly after the game’s first penalty to Emma Maltais for an illegal hit expired, Stecklein floated a point shot over Desbiens’ left shoulder for a 1-0 lead at 10:36. The 30-year-old, who stepped away from the national team for a couple of seasons, first appeared at the Women's Worlds in 2013.
Canada’s stars picked up their intensity. Sarah Fillier found Sarah Nurse streaking to the net, but Frankel denied her in tight. Meanwhile, Murphy – known as much for her agitating ways as her offensive gifts – mixed it up with multiple Canadians on the forecheck, getting a vigorous shove from Larocque for her pains.
"Probably not as much physicality as you see in the [PWHL], just because of the differences in what's called," said Canada's Brianne Jenner. "But obviously it's another level when these two teams face off, and definitely fast-paced and probably the most physical we've played."
Kendall Coyne Schofield nearly set up Minnesota Frost teammate Taylor Heise for a second American goal on a 2-on-1 with about a minute left in the opening frame, but Desbiens smartly scooped the puck up with her glove.
Midway through the second period, the Americans exerted pressure during their second power play. Star blueliner Caroline Harvey, who has led this tournament in points two years in a row, rang one off the iron from the centre point.
It was Keller who made it 2-0, picking up the puck in the neutral zone, getting on her horse, and powering into the high slot to beat Desbiens at 12:22.
"I can't say enough good things about Megan Keller," said Stecklein. "Just an awesome all-around defender and an incredible offensive threat, finding her way through quite a few people and getting that shot off. I don't know if I've seen her score a goal like that in a game like this. So that was really fun."
Tempers rose as the period wound down, including Canada's Renata Fast slamming 2024 MVP Laila Edwards to the ice behind the U.S. goal line. After Canada failed to convert on a power play with Britta Curl off for tripping, Stacey had a golden opportunity when she broke in solo with just over a minute before the buzzer. However, Frankel didn't flinch.
"I think we had a really good start to the game and honestly a pretty good end, but I thought our second was a little bit dodgy," Heise said. "But with the long change and getting ourselves used to the ice and playing at such a high pace, I thought we did a good job."
Stacey got another breakaway on a Marie-Philip Poulin feed in the third period and this time made no mistake, squeezing the puck through the U.S. goalie's five-hole at 6:50. Poulin – the lone player, either male or female, to score in four Olympic finals – currently leads the Women's Worlds with five assists and six points.
An effective late U.S. forecheck prevented Canada from getting Desbiens out for the sixth attacker until less than 40 seconds remained in regulation. A streaking Stacey got one more close-in chance, but couldn't convert, and the U.S. celebrated.
"Creating more time in the O-zone would have been good, and getting more bodies in front of Frankel," said Jenner. "She's just a very good goalie, so we've got to make her life a little bit more difficult."
Tight, intense games are the rule between the North American superpowers. In all six of the Olympic finals in which they have met, as well as 17 of the 23 Canada-U.S. Women’s Worlds finals, the game was decided by either one or two goals.
The last time the U.S. won gold was in 2023 in Brampton, Ontario. Captain Hilary Knight led the way with a hat trick in a 6-3 victory.
Both sides are building toward the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy. Dating back to the original 1998 Olympic women’s hockey tournament in Nagano, Japan, Canada has dominated that rivalry with five gold medals (2002, 2006 2010, 2014, 2022) to the U.S.’s two (1998, 2018).
Both Wroblewski and Canadian coach Troy Ryan adjusted their lineups for this showdown. Ace Canadian defender Claire Thompson slotted back in alongside Erin Ambrose after sitting for a game, and Micah Zandee-Hart was scratched.
For the Americans, Lacey Eden took Kirsten Simms’ spot among the forwards. The nifty Simms, notably, scored the 1-0 overtime winner in last year’s Canada-U.S. group game. The 20-year-old more recently made headlines with her late penalty-shot equalizer and sudden-death winner for Wisconsin versus Ohio State in the Frozen Four.
Canada finishes off its Group A slate against host Czechia on Monday, while the Americans face Switzerland on Tuesday.
"The Czech federation has done an amazing job with this tournament," said Jenner after a new European attendance record was set with more than 56,000 spectators to date. "It's a great venue. The fans are loud. They're into it, so it's pretty exciting to be here. They're doing a great job of hosting."
Canada vs United States - 2025 IIHF Women's World Championship
OF