The United States has defeated Canada 3-2 in overtime to win the 2017 Women’s World Championships.
Canada got out to a blistering start, as Meghan Agosta scored just 1:01 into the game. The Americans answered quickly, with Boston Pride defenceman Kacey Bellamy finding the back of the net three minutes later.
With action going back and forth throughout the second period, both Shannon Szabados and Nicole Hensley stood tall. Bellamy put her second of the game past the Canadian netminder a mere 42 seconds into the third to give the Americans their first lead of the game. Calgary Inferno forward Brianne Jenner responded just ahead of the 10-minute mark on a goal that went to video review.
Once again, a Canada-USA Women’s World Championship gold medal game was headed to overtime. Dangerous chances were traded in an intense start to the extra period, but it was the Americans and Boston Pride forward Hilary Knight coming out on top. Knight’s perfect one-timer found it’s way past Shannon Szabados to the United States’ seventh World Championship.
Kacey Bellamy received the Player of the Game for the United States. Wisconsin Badgers forward Emily Clark took home the award for Canada.
Nicole Hensley made 24 saves in the victory, while Shannon Szabados made 30 in the loss.
An Emotional Victory
It was an emotional tournament for the Americans. Days before the tournament, the women were able to reach an agreement with USA Hockey to resolve the boycott. With little time to practice and prepare for the tournament, the American team went a perfect 5-0, defeating Canada twice.
While Canada has been successful every four years at the Olympics, victories at the World Championships have been scarce in recent years. The United States has now won seven of the last eight Women’s World Championships.
The Women’s World Championships will now take a year off due to the upcoming 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, where the Americans will look to win their first Olympic gold medal in women’s ice hockey since 1998.
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