The 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship concluded on Sunday, January 12th, with an exciting culmination to a tournament brimming with young talent. If you missed the action leading up to the finals, you can catch up on all the highlights and results before the semi-finals HERE.
Semi-Final Showdowns
The semi-finals saw intense matchups as the top teams battled for a place in the gold medal game. Team USA edged out Team Sweden with a tight 2-1 victory, securing their spot in the final. Meanwhile, Team Canada also advanced to the gold medal match, defeating Team Czechia 4-2 in a highly competitive contest.
In other important news from the semi-finals, Team Slovakia triumphed over Japan with a dominant 5-1 win, ensuring their place in the top division for next year’s tournament. For Japan, who had earned promotion to the top division just last year, it was a disappointing exit after their brief stay at the top.
Czechia Takes Bronze
The bronze medal game on January 12th proved to be an exciting affair, with Czechia staging a resilient comeback to claim third place. Sweden initially held the advantage after a power play goal from Tilde Grillfors, but Czechia fought back in the final period to seal a 4-2 victory.
This win marks back-to-back medals for Czechia, following their silver finish in last year’s tournament in Zug, Switzerland.
Canada Clinches Gold
In the highly anticipated gold medal game, Team Canada reclaimed their position atop the U18 Women’s World Championship, defeating Team USA 3-0 to secure the gold. Goals from Caileigh Tiller, Dorothy Copetti, and Stryker Zablocki helped Canada seal the win, while goaltender Marilou Grenier earned a shutout, making 14 saves to stifle the American attack.
Lopusanova, Fanale, Primerano, and Novakova Claim Top Honors
One of the standout stars of the tournament was Slovakia’s Nela Lopusanova, who was named the MVP of the 2025 IIHF Women’s U18 World Championship. Lopusanova’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as she recorded 11 points (5 goals, 6 assists) in just five games. Remarkably, she was involved in all but three of Slovakia’s goals during the tournament.
Lopusanova’s MVP award is notable not only for her outstanding individual play but also for the significant impact she had on Slovakia’s performance in the competition. For a deeper dive into Lopusanova’s journey and what makes her a truly exceptional player, you can read more HERE.
In addition to Lopusanova’s achievement, three other players were also named stars of the 2025 #U18WomensWorlds. Anabella Fanale from Team USA earned the distinction of Best Forward, while Team Canada’s Chloe Primerano was named Best Defender. Daniela Novakova of Team Czechia rounded out the honors, being named Best Goalkeeper. Each of these players demonstrated extraordinary skill and leadership, making significant contributions to their teams’ success throughout the tournament.
More Highlights and Coverage
If you’re looking to revisit the exciting moments from the 2025 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship, be sure to visit IIHF.com for all the highlights, big plays, and more from the tournament.
With the conclusion of this year’s tournament, the future of women’s hockey looks bright, with many young talents ready to make their mark on the international stage in years to come.
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Featured Image Credits: International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
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