Team Canada poses for a celebratory team photo. (Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

By Logan Lehmann

Victory in Vantaa

Zablocki scores as Canada wins gold at U18 women’s worlds

Jan 12, 2025 | 2:59 PM

Stryker Zablocki and Team Canada are golden at the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Finland after blanking the United States 3-0 in the championship game Sunday afternoon.

Zablocki, who turns 18 on Friday, scored the empty net goal late in the third period to seal the victory for Canada, capping off a perfect tournament going undefeated. With the point, the Prince Albert-born sniper finishes the tournament as the leading scorer, totaling eight goals and four assists for 12 points in six games.

Despite the effort, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award was given to 16-year-old Slovakian forward Nela Lopusanova, who finished second in scoring with 11 points (5G-6A). Coincidentally, Zablocki and Lopusanova are teammates playing with the Bishop Kearney Selects U19 AAA program.

Prince Albert’s Stryker Zablocki (left) poses with her new hardware alongside some Canadian teammates. (Micheline Veluvolu/IIHF)

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Also scoring for Canada in their gold medal win was Caileigh Tiller and Dorothy Copetti. Sydney Sawyer led the assist department with two, while Danica Maynard and Alex Therien each had one. Marilou Grenier collected the shutout between the pipes, stopping all 14 shots she faced.

The gold medal marks Canada’s third gold medal at the tournament since 2020 and eighth overall since the championship was created in 2008.

Meanwhile, in the bronze medal game, Czechia managed to squeak past Sweden 2-1 with a late third period goal. The third-place victory is Czechia’s second consecutive podium finish at the tournament, where they won silver last year.

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loganc.lehmann@pattisonmedia.com