Hilary Knight, one of the most experienced players on Team USA, scored a hat-trick as her team defeated hosts Canada 6-3 to win the women’s World ice hockey Championship trophy on April 17th in Brampton, Ontario. This marks their tenth win and their first title since 2019.
The game was a fierce battle, with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists Canada taking the lead with a goal from their captain Marie-Philip Poulin. Abbey Murphy levelled the game for the US, but Brianne Jenner put the hosts back on top. Despite falling behind three times, the visitors managed to come back thanks to Caroline Harvey and Knight, who scored two power-play goals in the third period to secure the victory for the USA over their cross-border rivals.
“It’s hard to beat Canada. It’s hard to beat Canada in Canada. So we definitely felt like an underdog, we always feel like an underdog, people are always rooting against us. But somehow we persevere, and it feels sweeter that way,” Knight said after her ninth career gold in an interview with CBC.
This was the third time that the American star has hit the game-winner in a World championship final after 2011 and 2017. “It’s a tough one to swallow,” said Canadian captain Poulin. “Lots of mixed feelings. Obviously you want to win, but like I said it’s part of it. It is part of sports. It’s how you respond after that.”
With this win, Team USA won their tenth Women’s World ice hockey Championship trophy, and their first title since 2019. The game was a back-and-forth battle, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallists Canada were the first to score through their captain Marie-Philip Poulin. Abbey Murphy levelled the game for the US before Brianne Jenner put the hosts back on top. However, the visitors came back from three deficits thanks to Caroline Harvey and Knight, who scored twice on power plays in the third period to secure the victory for the USA over their cross-border rivals.
Despite their defeat, Canada still holds the upper hand in World titles with 12 wins compared to USA’s 10. The Czech Republic secured their second back-to-back bronze medal at the Worlds by edging Switzerland 3-2.
Hilary Knight has been a key player for Team USA, and her performance in this game highlights her importance to the team. She has won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, including the 2018 Olympic gold medal and five world championship titles.
Knight’s three-goal performance in the World Championship final against Canada was nothing short of spectacular. She has been a consistent performer for the USA, and her experience and leadership have helped the team to achieve great success over the years.
Team USA’s victory over Canada was a significant achievement, and it shows that the team is still a force to be reckoned with in international ice hockey. Despite the challenges they faced in the game, they were able to bounce back and secure a memorable victory.
The win is a great morale boost for Team USA as they prepare for future tournaments, including the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. They will be hoping to build on this victory and continue their success in the coming years.
Overall, Hilary Knight’s hat-trick in the Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship final was a remarkable performance, and it will go down in history as one of the greatest moments in women’s ice hockey. The win for Team USA is a significant achievement, and it highlights the team’s talent and determination to succeed.
Although Canada still holds the upper hand in World titles with 12 wins compared to USA’s 10, the Americans can now revel in their recent victory. The Czech Republic edged Switzerland 3-2 to secure their second back-to-back bronze medal at the Worlds.
