Canada stays perfect
By Risto Pakarinen |
08 NOV 2026
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Tim Austen
Daryl Watts scored one and picked up an assist. Eve Gascon made 12 saves en route to a shutout, and Riko Kawaguchi made 45 saves for Japan.
Canada still has never lost to Japan, and in fact, the Japanese scored their first goal against Canada in the quarterfinal in Ceske Budejovice in 2025. Canada won that game 9-1.
In that game, Fast picked up three assists. Tonight, she was wearing the C on her sweater. Fast and Laura Stacey act as co-captains, and in Canada’s first game, it was Stacey who had the C and Fast the A.
“I liked our team's efforts, and the way we stayed connected throughout the entire game. I think we did a really good job of focusing on the habits and details that we've been emphasizing for the last week and a half together, so it was really good to get rewarded for that,” said Fast.
“As you can see on the scoreboard, it was 9-0, a high-scoring game, but I think we were able to use our speed and our forecheck and D-zone coverage as planned,” said Japan’s Akane Shiga.
As expected, Canada dominated the play, and at 6:29, Chloe Primerano opened the scoring with her first IIHF Women’s World Championship goal after she banged in her own rebound from the slot.
“It was good getting a bunch of goals and a bunch of players also getting their first national team goals and points,” Fast said. “At the end of the day, we're always playing a team game, but it's always really nice to share a moment that they'll remember forever.”
It took Canada another eight minutes to extend their lead. It came after yet another long possession in Japan’s zone. Danielle Serdachny passed the puck to the slot, but two Japanese defenders tied up the Canadian there, and the puck ended up at Erin Ambrose’s feet. She had plenty of time to see where to shoot. She chose top shelf, and Canada had doubled their lead at 14:32.
Japan arrived late to the second period, literally, and got a bench penalty for delay of game, giving Canada a two-player advantage for the full two minutes. Akane Shiga’s high-sticking minor was pushed over to the second period after Canada held on to the puck for almost 90 seconds during the delayed penalty.
They let the puck do the work, cycling it all around Japan’s zone until Eldrige delivered a perfect backdoor pass, and Daryl Watts had an easy job to slam it in for 3-0. Nicole Gosling also picked up an assist.
It was Eldridge’s fourth point in the tournament. She last played in the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2022, also held in Denmark, scored two points in seven games — and went home with a gold medal.
Japan defended well, but one turnover behind their own net became costly late in the third period. Watts snapped up the puck, and her backhand pass found Rosalie Tremblay at the doorstep, and she didn’t miss.
Canada 4, Japan 0 at 13:57.
Canada held on to the puck for the first half of the third period as they cycled the puck all around the Japanese zone, creating several chances. At 6:51, the puck landed on Kendall Cooper’s stick in the slot. She fired, Kawaguchi made her 40th save, but couldn’t stop Cooper’s second shot off the rebound.
Emma Maltais made it 6-0 off a solo effort at 12:52 in the third period before Sophie Jaques scored the Canadians’ seventh goal with a great shot from the point with 1:50 remaining in the game. It was a power play goal straight off a faceoff.
Just 37 seconds later, Sarah Woznewicz scored her first Women’s Worlds goal that made it 8-0, with an equally impressive shot from the slot.
“In the end, we did let in a lot of goals, and that's something we have to work on. We don’t quite have the mental strength to play against these higher level teams and I think in the end that showed in the end,” Shiga said.
The final score, 9-0, was sealed by Caitlin Kramer with 18 seconds on the clock.
“I think that just shows that we didn't take our foot off the gas, and that's what you have to do in these short tournaments. You got to make use of every moment you have together to build that chemistry,” Fast said.
Canada still has never lost to Japan, and in fact, the Japanese scored their first goal against Canada in the quarterfinal in Ceske Budejovice in 2025. Canada won that game 9-1.
In that game, Fast picked up three assists. Tonight, she was wearing the C on her sweater. Fast and Laura Stacey act as co-captains, and in Canada’s first game, it was Stacey who had the C and Fast the A.
“I liked our team's efforts, and the way we stayed connected throughout the entire game. I think we did a really good job of focusing on the habits and details that we've been emphasizing for the last week and a half together, so it was really good to get rewarded for that,” said Fast.
“As you can see on the scoreboard, it was 9-0, a high-scoring game, but I think we were able to use our speed and our forecheck and D-zone coverage as planned,” said Japan’s Akane Shiga.
As expected, Canada dominated the play, and at 6:29, Chloe Primerano opened the scoring with her first IIHF Women’s World Championship goal after she banged in her own rebound from the slot.
“It was good getting a bunch of goals and a bunch of players also getting their first national team goals and points,” Fast said. “At the end of the day, we're always playing a team game, but it's always really nice to share a moment that they'll remember forever.”
It took Canada another eight minutes to extend their lead. It came after yet another long possession in Japan’s zone. Danielle Serdachny passed the puck to the slot, but two Japanese defenders tied up the Canadian there, and the puck ended up at Erin Ambrose’s feet. She had plenty of time to see where to shoot. She chose top shelf, and Canada had doubled their lead at 14:32.
Japan arrived late to the second period, literally, and got a bench penalty for delay of game, giving Canada a two-player advantage for the full two minutes. Akane Shiga’s high-sticking minor was pushed over to the second period after Canada held on to the puck for almost 90 seconds during the delayed penalty.
They let the puck do the work, cycling it all around Japan’s zone until Eldrige delivered a perfect backdoor pass, and Daryl Watts had an easy job to slam it in for 3-0. Nicole Gosling also picked up an assist.
It was Eldridge’s fourth point in the tournament. She last played in the IIHF Women’s World Championship in 2022, also held in Denmark, scored two points in seven games — and went home with a gold medal.
Japan defended well, but one turnover behind their own net became costly late in the third period. Watts snapped up the puck, and her backhand pass found Rosalie Tremblay at the doorstep, and she didn’t miss.
Canada 4, Japan 0 at 13:57.
Canada held on to the puck for the first half of the third period as they cycled the puck all around the Japanese zone, creating several chances. At 6:51, the puck landed on Kendall Cooper’s stick in the slot. She fired, Kawaguchi made her 40th save, but couldn’t stop Cooper’s second shot off the rebound.
Emma Maltais made it 6-0 off a solo effort at 12:52 in the third period before Sophie Jaques scored the Canadians’ seventh goal with a great shot from the point with 1:50 remaining in the game. It was a power play goal straight off a faceoff.
Just 37 seconds later, Sarah Woznewicz scored her first Women’s Worlds goal that made it 8-0, with an equally impressive shot from the slot.
“In the end, we did let in a lot of goals, and that's something we have to work on. We don’t quite have the mental strength to play against these higher level teams and I think in the end that showed in the end,” Shiga said.
The final score, 9-0, was sealed by Caitlin Kramer with 18 seconds on the clock.
“I think that just shows that we didn't take our foot off the gas, and that's what you have to do in these short tournaments. You got to make use of every moment you have together to build that chemistry,” Fast said.
Canada vs Japan - 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship
OF