Kraemer scores 4 goals as Canada captures gold at U18 women’s hockey worlds with dominant win over Sweden | CBC Sports

Canada saved its most dominant effort for final.

Caitlin Kraemer led the best way with 4 targets as Canada routed Sweden 10-0 to assert its second consecutive gold medal on the girls’s world under-18 hockey championship Sunday in Östersund, Sweden.

The 16-year-old Kraemer from Waterloo, Ont., scored a hat trick in a span of 6:44 within the first interval, which was the quickest in match historical past.

Her fourth objective within the third interval was her tournament-leading tenth, which additionally set a report for many targets by a Canadian in a single match.

That report was beforehand held by present Canadian girls’s hockey staff captain Marie-Philip Poulin.

“This team has been such a big part of my achievements, I could not have done it without them,” mentioned Kraemer, who was named to the match all-star staff.

“We wanted to leave the world knowing who we are. I am at a loss for words. You dream about this as a little kid, and to win is amazing.”

WATCH | Kraemer leads Canada’s U18 girls’s hockey staff to gold:

Caitlin Kraemer’s hat trick powers Canada over Sweden for U18 gold

Not solely did the 16-year-old rating three within the first interval, however she additionally added a fourth later and set the Canadian report for targets in a match.

Alexia Aubin, with two targets, Abby Lunney, Piper Grober, Mackenzie Alexander and Charlotte Pieckenhagen additionally scored for Canada, which went undefeated all through the match and claimed back-to-back gold for the primary time since successful three straight from 2012 to 2014.

Goaltender Hannah Clark’s 21-save shutout was the primary of her worldwide profession.

“We knew what our end goal was,” Clark mentioned. “We knew we had a job to do and were going to work as hard as possible to get it done.

“Our staff has a lot coronary heart. I really like each one among these women and I do know we love one another. You dream about [winning gold] since you’re little. It is so particular.”

Swedish goaltender Felicia Frank surrendered five goals in 12 minutes before making way for Ida Henriksson.

Henriksson stopped 26-of-31 shots in relief for Sweden.

The United States defeated Finland 5-0 to grab bronze earlier Sunday.

Sweden’s 2-1 semifinal upset of the U.S. on Saturday meant the Americans would not play for gold for the first time in the 15-year history of the tournament.

Alex Law scored the overtime goal for Canada in a 3-2 semifinal win over Finland.

She was among seven veterans of the 2022 team that won gold in a tournament delayed and relocated from January in Sweden to June in Madison, Wis., because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada got off to a blistering start Sunday thanks to Kraemer. After being held scoreless in Saturday’s semifinal for the first time in the tournament, she netted two quick goals.

Kraemer opened the scoring 5:16 into the contest before adding her second 25 seconds later.

Aubin joined in on the fun at 9:41 when she redirected an Ava Murphy shot into the net. Murphy had three assists in the game.

Grober made it 4-0 with a wrist shot on the power play at 10:01.

At the 12-minute mark, Kraemer completed the hat trick on a two-on-one break, beating Frank top corner.

Aubin added her second of the game 3:54 into the middle frame. After a Sweden turnover, Pieckenhagen sent Aubin on a breakaway and she beat Henriksson with a backhand shot.

Less than 90 seconds later, Lunney scored on a rebound to make it a 7-0 game.

Alexander added to the advantage at 8:29 of the second.

Pieckenhagen joined in on the scoring just 52 seconds into the third.

Kraemer scored on the power play 9:17 into the final frame, when she netted a rebound off Emma Venusio one-timer.

“We knew they had been going to carry it at the moment, however getting to observe them rejoice the little issues, be pleased for one another was nice,” said assistant coach Tara Watchorn, an Olympic gold medallist in 2014.

“This group was particular, little question. To get to see them characterize their nation with delight, class and a lot ability was loads of enjoyable.”

Slovakia’s 14-year-old phenom Nela Lopusanova was named tournament MVP after leading all players in scoring with 12 points (nine goals, three assists).