VANTAA, Finland — Stryker Zablocki scored twice and Marilou Grenier made 20 saves as Canada blanked Czechia, 5-0, Tuesday at the world women's under-18 hockey championship.
Canada finished the preliminary round in top spot in Group B with nine points from three regulation wins and will face Japan in Thursday's quarterfinals.
Rama First Nation's Sydney Sawyer had a goal and an assist for Canada, while Alex Therien and Anaïs Leprohon also scored.
Team Canada's roster includes Midhurst's Riley Sorokan at forward and Barrie Sharks product Amelia Wilkinson in goal.
Daniela Novakova stopped 39 shots for Czechia, which finished second in Group B with five points and will face Finland in the quarterfinals.
Canada is looking for its eighth championship at the event. The United States won in 2024 after Canada won the previous two titles.
In other results Tuesday, the U.S. shut out Finland, 5-0, and finished atop Group A, winning all three of its preliminary-round games.
Elsewhere, Switzerland beat Slovakia, 5-3, and Sweden edged Japan, 5-4, in overtime.
The U.S. will play Slovakia and Sweden will face Switzerland in Thursday's other quarterfinals.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2025.
The Canadian Press
