Canada shows no mercy to hosts
By Risto Pakarinen |
09 NOV 2026
photo: © International Ice Hockey Federation / Tim Austen
The Danes knew it was always going to be an uphill battle, but Canada was just too strong and took a comfortable 10-0 win.
Emma Maltais scored twice for Canada, and Laura Stacey scored one and added two assists. Sara Manness scored her first Women’s World Championship goal.
"We’ve been learning a lot as a group, especially with lots of new players, and I think we’ve been doing a good job learning from each game," said Canada's Kristin O'Neill.
Denmark’s Caroline Bjergstad split the goaltending duties with Aya Petersen, in the absence of Emma-Sofie Nordstrom, who had gotten a night off. In Canada’s net, in turn, Kayle Osborne made her first start of the tournament, so all three Canadian goalies have gotten a start.
"It's one of the best teams in the world, so we knew it would be hard, but we gave our all. It's been impressive to see how our young players play in this tournament," Bjergstad said.
Canada outshot Denmark 74-6 in the game, in a display of total domination.
The statistics were stacked against the Danes.
No matter how well they defended — and they defended very well — and no matter how clearly Bjergstad could see the puck — and she could see every shot — there was going to be an odd bounce, a power play, something.
They had to be perfect, or the floodgates would open sooner or later.
They were perfect for 15 minutes and 38 seconds.
That’s when Renata Fast’s pass attempt from behind the goal line hit a Danish defender’s stick and snuck in to give Canada a 1-0 lead and some breathing room.
Just sixteen seconds later, Rosalie Tremblay got on a partial breakaway from the left, and she fired a laser from the faceoff dot, beating Bjergstad clean on the glove side to double Canada’s lead.
With 1:12 remaining in the period, Emma Maltais increased Canada’s lead to 3-0 when she finished a nice play in which Nicole Gosling and Rebecca Leslie split the Danish defense and set up Maltais at the far post. Bjergstad had no way of getting in front of the shot.
Canada didn’t let up in the second period.
Erin Ambrose’s point shot got blocked by a Danish player, sending the puck flying over Bjergstad before landing in the crease. Just as a Danish defender was ready to swat the puck away, Kristin O’Neill showed up from behind the net and backhanded it into the empty net.
Canada had a four-goal lead at 3:34.
At 7:31, Chloe Primerano set up Sarah Fillier, who one-timed it top shelf from the top of the left faceoff circle on the power play to make it 5-0.
A mere 32 seconds later, Bjergstad was beaten again. Laura Stacey climbed up the wall and found Sophie Jaques, who sent the puck toward the net, and Maltais tipped it in for 6-0, her second of the night.
Denmark made a goalie change halfway through the game. Petersen had to surrender a goal for the first time when Kendall Cooper fired a snapshot from the slot at 13:34. It was her third goal in the tournament.
Canada scored their eighth goal after another cycle play. Eldridge beat Petersen with a wrist shot from the slot, assisted by Primerano and Fillier.
Canada’s ninth goal was Sara Manness’s first Women’s World Championship goal. She banged in a rebound from up close at 4:48.
"It was great that lots of different players were able to get some offense tonight. It’s a good sign for our group," O'Neill said.
It was double digits time at 6:21 when Stacey skated around the Danish defense, waited for Petersen to commit and hit the ice, and then fired the puck upstairs for 10-0.
Nothing summed up Denmark’s spirit better than Mille Sorensen blocking a hard point shot with 20 seconds remaining in a 10-0 game. The Danes truly left everything on the ice.
Emma Maltais scored twice for Canada, and Laura Stacey scored one and added two assists. Sara Manness scored her first Women’s World Championship goal.
"We’ve been learning a lot as a group, especially with lots of new players, and I think we’ve been doing a good job learning from each game," said Canada's Kristin O'Neill.
Denmark’s Caroline Bjergstad split the goaltending duties with Aya Petersen, in the absence of Emma-Sofie Nordstrom, who had gotten a night off. In Canada’s net, in turn, Kayle Osborne made her first start of the tournament, so all three Canadian goalies have gotten a start.
"It's one of the best teams in the world, so we knew it would be hard, but we gave our all. It's been impressive to see how our young players play in this tournament," Bjergstad said.
Canada outshot Denmark 74-6 in the game, in a display of total domination.
The statistics were stacked against the Danes.
No matter how well they defended — and they defended very well — and no matter how clearly Bjergstad could see the puck — and she could see every shot — there was going to be an odd bounce, a power play, something.
They had to be perfect, or the floodgates would open sooner or later.
They were perfect for 15 minutes and 38 seconds.
That’s when Renata Fast’s pass attempt from behind the goal line hit a Danish defender’s stick and snuck in to give Canada a 1-0 lead and some breathing room.
Just sixteen seconds later, Rosalie Tremblay got on a partial breakaway from the left, and she fired a laser from the faceoff dot, beating Bjergstad clean on the glove side to double Canada’s lead.
With 1:12 remaining in the period, Emma Maltais increased Canada’s lead to 3-0 when she finished a nice play in which Nicole Gosling and Rebecca Leslie split the Danish defense and set up Maltais at the far post. Bjergstad had no way of getting in front of the shot.
Canada didn’t let up in the second period.
Erin Ambrose’s point shot got blocked by a Danish player, sending the puck flying over Bjergstad before landing in the crease. Just as a Danish defender was ready to swat the puck away, Kristin O’Neill showed up from behind the net and backhanded it into the empty net.
Canada had a four-goal lead at 3:34.
At 7:31, Chloe Primerano set up Sarah Fillier, who one-timed it top shelf from the top of the left faceoff circle on the power play to make it 5-0.
A mere 32 seconds later, Bjergstad was beaten again. Laura Stacey climbed up the wall and found Sophie Jaques, who sent the puck toward the net, and Maltais tipped it in for 6-0, her second of the night.
Denmark made a goalie change halfway through the game. Petersen had to surrender a goal for the first time when Kendall Cooper fired a snapshot from the slot at 13:34. It was her third goal in the tournament.
Canada scored their eighth goal after another cycle play. Eldridge beat Petersen with a wrist shot from the slot, assisted by Primerano and Fillier.
Canada’s ninth goal was Sara Manness’s first Women’s World Championship goal. She banged in a rebound from up close at 4:48.
"It was great that lots of different players were able to get some offense tonight. It’s a good sign for our group," O'Neill said.
It was double digits time at 6:21 when Stacey skated around the Danish defense, waited for Petersen to commit and hit the ice, and then fired the puck upstairs for 10-0.
Nothing summed up Denmark’s spirit better than Mille Sorensen blocking a hard point shot with 20 seconds remaining in a 10-0 game. The Danes truly left everything on the ice.
Denmark vs Canada - 2026 IIHF Women's World Championship
OF