By: Benedict Chen

MADISON, Wis. – Team USA showed their strength against Sweden as they routed them 6-1 in the fourth game of the 2022 IIHF U-18 Women's World Championships.  

Future Badger forward Laila Edwards, the younger sister of Badger defender Chayla Edwards gave Team USA the early lead with a power play goal just three minutes and five seconds into the first period. After Sweden's Nicole Hall was called for tripping on USA's Alyssa Biedermann, the Swedish team was forced to go on a penalty kill only two minutes and forty-six seconds into the game. Kirsten Simms, another future Badger, assisted Edwards with the goal. 

Later in the first period, Wisconsin commit Cassie Hall would score back-to-back goals to extend the United States' lead and Josie St. Martin would add on another to make it a 4-0 lead for Team USA.  

The second period saw the Swedish team be a bit rougher and quicker against the US, but they were unable to score. 

With only a few minutes left in the second, Alyssa Biedermann added on to the USA lead in the by scoring a shorthanded goal to make it 5-0.  

In the third period, Team USA's Sydney Morrow was called to the penalty box and with thirty-seven seconds left in the power play, Ebba Hedqvist got Sweden on the board cutting the USA lead by 1. 

Tessa Janecke capped off the game by scoring a power play goal as Team USA beat Sweden 6-1 and outshot them 47 to 21. 

Laila Edwards, Sydney Morrow and Cassie Hall each recorded three points in the match while Grace Dwyer and Kirsten Simms had two assists. Goaltender Annalies Bergmann received the win for Team USA.  

Emma Pfeffer (SWE) and Cassie Hall (USA) were named Players of the Game.

Canada shut out by Finland for the first time in tournament history

Team Canada lost 2-0 to Finland making it the first time in tournament history that Canada has lost to Finland. 

Canada maintained offensive pressure in the Finnish zone for most of the game. However, they struggled to get the puck out of their own net and in their opponents' net. 

Hailey Macleod stopped 13 out of 15 shots while Finland's Emilia Kyrrko stopped 40 shots to shut the Canadians out. 

Ada Eronen and Oona Havana scored the two goals for Finland, one of them being on the power play.