Canada Leaves No Room for Finland in World Championships Showdown
In a stark display of dominance, Finland’s under-18 girls’ national team faced a crushing defeat against Canada, ending their preliminary round at this year’s World Championships on a disappointing note. The final score: a staggering 12–0 in favor of the hosts.
From the outset, the match unfolded as many had anticipated. Finnish goaltender Saimi Pesola was overwhelmed early in the first period, conceding four goals from a barrage of 11 Canadian shots before the end of the frame. Stepping in for the latter part of the game, Eerika Kujala put forth a valiant effort, making 48 saves out of 56 total attempts.
Canada’s star player, Adrianna Milani, made her mark by scoring four of the twelve goals, underscoring the team’s offensive prowess. In contrast, Finland managed a mere ten shots on the Canadian net, defended by Rowan Houweling.
Head coach Mira Kuisma expressed her disappointment candidly in the match report shared on the Finnish Ice Hockey Association’s website. “The result is blunt and total. I’m really disappointed overall,” she said. “The differences in individual skills are significant right now. Moreover, our opponent capitalized on our mistakes with ruthless efficiency.”
With this loss, Finland finds itself at the bottom of its group standings, having previously suffered defeats of 0–14 to the USA and 2–5 against Slovakia. This setback is particularly disheartening for a team that finished fourth in the 2024 under-18 championships and claimed bronze just two years prior.
Tonight, Finland has one final chance to salvage their tournament run in a crucial match against Hungary. Under pressure, they must secure a victory to avoid relegation from the A series for next year’s championships. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Girl Lions as they look to reclaim their footing on the international stage.