Knight silences Canada as U.S. rallies to win women's hockey gold

The thunderous crowd of nearly 5,000 fans at the women's hockey world championship final in Brampton, Ont., was overwhelming.

Periodically, a small group of American supporters would attempt U-S-A chants. Each time — even after a U.S. goal — it would be drowned out by CA-NA-DA.

On the ice, however, it was the U.S. that always seemed to have the answer.

In yet another seesaw battle between the bitter rivals, the Americans emerged with gold, winning 6-3 despite facing three separate one-goal deficits.

U.S. captain Hilary Knight scored twice in the final minutes to complete a hat trick and secure the comeback victory.

"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," Knight said. "But somehow we persevere, and it feels sweeter that way."

WATCH | Knight's hat trick leads U.S. past Canada for gold:

Hilary Knight hat trick leads United States to world championship title over Canada

2 years ago

Duration 5:28

Hilary Knight's three goals included the winner as the Americans captured their 10th women's world hockey championships gold medal with a 6-3 win over Canada Sunday night.

Both of Knight's goals came on the power play after Canada's Brianne Jenner saw the box for tripping and Claire Thompson for delay of game.

The American win ends a run of dominance for Canada, the reigning Olympic gold medallists who had also won the last two world titles.

"It's a tough one to swallow," said Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who scored the game's opening goal. "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."

The U.S. now has 10 world titles to Canada's 12. It can close the gap to one on home ice next April when the tournament heads to Utica, N.Y.

Poulin said she's already thinking about handing the favour back to the Americans on their home ice.

The game went back-and-forth throughout.

Canada took an early lead when Poulin opened the scoring on a five-one-three, picking a corner from her office at the top of the circle. But Abbey Murphy brought the game back level for the U.S. with just under two minutes left in the first frame.

Jenner, who scored Canada's only goals in its 2-1 over the U.S. to win the 2022 world title, struck twice in the middle frame, each time restoring the Canadian lead.

Knight replied for the U.S. in between Jenner's markers, leaving the Canadians up 3-2 after 40 minutes.

It set the stage for a third period which required Canada to hold a lead, something it'd failed to accomplish on two previous occasions in this tournament.

This time, the Americans capitalized. Defender Caroline Harvey, 20, knotted the game once again early in the frame.

That's when Knight took over, and after Cayla Barnes added an empty-netter, the Americans became world champions for the first time since 2019.

Jenner said Canada was in "disbelief" after the game.

"We gotta figure out a way to hold those leads. Unfortunate the way it finished there, but we're not looking to skirt any blame and we gotta figure out how we can be better," Jenner said.

She said even when down two late in the game, Canada remained hopeful.

"Not that we don't know the opponent is a great hockey team, just we believed so fully in our group. … We were still thinking that we were going to find a way. So it stings. It just hurts right now," Jenner said.

Earlier, the Czech Republic claimed its second consecutive bronze medal. It'd never reached the podium previously.

Head coach Carla MacLeod, a member of Canada's 2010 Olympic gold medal team, said the bronze medal was "rewarding."

"I just sit back and I look at them and I watch how they walk around now and they believe," she said. "Ted Lasso's on to something there, because believing is a big piece, but the only way to believe is to cultivate positivity and then find success and we've been really fortunate that way."

For the finalists — especially coming off a run of three major championships in 14 months — the immediate future is in flux.

For the past four years, PWHPA players have spurned the Premier Hockey Federation, which houses five members of the Czech team, and instead played in a barnstorming weekend showcase tour.

But Radio-Canada reported on Sunday that the PWHPA would officially announce a formal league featuring six teams across Canada and the U.S. within the next two weeks.

And so for the next year, the North American foes are set to join forces in a league of their own. But for at least one night, the rivalry roared with full force.

And by the end of the proceedings, a once-raucous Canadian crowd fell silent.

In its place, the voices of Team USA, belting out their national anthem.

WATCH | Professional women's hockey struggles to take hold:

Professional women’s hockey struggles to take hold

2 years ago

Duration 2:53

Grassroots girls hockey has grown exponentially in recent years but professional women’s hockey has struggled to take hold. Experts say there is potential for a league to thrive if it is approached the right way.