Canada appears ready for the U18 Worlds taking apart the Finns 11-0. All four of the Canadian Gopher commits (Maddie McCullough, Adrianna Milani, Rachel Piggott and Megan Mossey) score a goal.
A few U18 preview articles:
“Canada Aims To Repeat As Champions…..”
“2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Preview: Part 1”
“2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Preview: Part 2”
“2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Preview: Part 3”
“2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship Preview: Part 4”
If you’re up early the U.S. starts off the Women’s World U18 Championships tomorrow morning at 8:00 against Slovakia.
“Experienced Team USA Roster is Ready for the Grind at the U18 Women’s World Championship”
All U.S. games are on NHL Network.
Future Gophers are:
#5 Katya Sander (Holy Family) ‘26 From Chanhassen
#6 Sloane Hartmetz (Shattuck) ‘26 From Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
#14 Talla Hansen (Benilde) ‘27 From Wayzata
#25 Annabelle Lovell (Lovell Academy) ‘27 From Hingham, Massachusetts
An ARTICLE focusing on the younger prospects at this year’s U18 tournament. The article is kind of European forward as Canada never has any double under age players, and the U.S. has chosen to go that direction this year also. Canada has one uncommitted player in Quebec native defender Anais Leprohon. She’s a class of ‘26 prospect so not sure what her future plans are. The Americans two uncommitted players are both 2009 birth years who are high school sophomores so are class of ‘28 targets and not eligible to commit to a college until next summer. Those two are Hermantown defender Taylee Manion and Boston area forward Catherine McCool.
An ARTICLE focusing on the younger prospects at this year’s U18 tournament. The article is kind of European forward as Canada never has any double under age players, and the U.S. has chosen to go that direction this year also. Canada has one uncommitted player in Quebec native defender Anais Leprohon. She’s a class of ‘26 prospect so not sure what her future plans are. The Americans two uncommitted players are both 2009 birth years who are high school sophomores so are class of ‘28 targets and not eligible to commit to a college until next summer. Those two are Hermantown defender Taylee Manion and Boston area forward Catherine McCool.
Quebec players do an extra year of high school so although she can commit now she is not committing for this year.
Canada's starting goalie, Charrois, is also uncommitted, but Minnesota probably isn't looking for goalies in the 2027 freshman class.
Other tournament scores today:
Czechia 9, Finland 1
Sweden 4, Hungary 1
Canada 9, Switzerland 0 - The Gophers’ four Etobicoke Jr. Dolphins commits combine for 2 goals and 4 assists.
https://twitter.com/HockeyCanada/status/2010156268544254348?s=20
Tomorrow’s schedule:
Finland vs. Slovakia 11:30
U.S. vs. Czechia 4:00
Sweden/Switzerland and Canada/Hungary on Monday
U.S. up 8-1 over Czechia after two.
Gopher associate coach Greg May is an assistant for this U.S. team. It was only Frosty and assistant Mitch Baker on the Gopher bench last night so I’m guessing Jess Scott is also at the U18’s.
Here’s an IIHF ARTICLE about Laure Meriguet, a Swiss defender who is playing in her fourth U18 World tournament. She is the only player from this tournament who will be skating in the Olympics next month.
U.S. 9, Czechia 1 final
“U.S. offense dominates again”
“U.S. Downs Czechia 9-1 In U18 Women’s Worlds Action”
Canada beats Hungary 14-0. Milani with a hat trick, Mossey with 2-2-4. Piggott with a goal and McCullough with an assist.
Canada beats Hungary 14-0. Milani with a hat trick, Mossey with 2-2-4. Piggott with a goal and McCullough with an assist.
The IIHF site is showing Maddie McCullough being named as Canada’s player of the game. Wonder if it might be a typo and it might be Ohio State recruit Hayley McDonald who also hade a hat trick.
Tomorrow is the end of the preliminary round. The U.S. takes on Finland at 11:30 a.m. (on NHL Network) Finland seems really down this year. The Canadians play Sweden at 3:00. Sweden seems to probably be the third best team in the field, but not sure if the can give Canada a competitive game.
Tournament links for 
commits
Class of ‘26
🇺🇸 Katya Sander
Class of ‘27
🇺🇸 Talla Hansen
🇨🇦 Megan Mossey
EDIT: Sorry, these didn’t work the way I was planning
These scores aren’t just lopsided, they’re embarrassing. I love women’s hockey, but there just isn’t enough talent outside of Canada and the United States to make this tournament compelling.
We just have to hope that things will improve over the next few years. It's like a lot of the Gopher Women's scores 15-20 years ago where it was regularly a question of what number would be higher... Gopher Goals or Opponent SOGs.
Yes, the European teams had been seemingly (admittedly slightly) closing the gap a bit over the past few years, but this year is a huge step backward. Finland’s drop is especially puzzling. They have a real chance of being relegated to the lower division next year. Sweden has some young talent that is highly thought of we’ll see how they do against Canada today (as I type this it’s 7-2 Canada early in the third).
Canada 9, Sweden 2 final
commits with one goal and five assists. Maybe having a Minnesota and an Ontario team would liven things up 😎.
“Canada beats Sweden For 1st In Group A”
Thursday’s Quarterfinals
Sweden vs. Slovakia 8:00 a.m.
Czechia vs. Switzerland 11:30 a.m.
USA vs. Hungary 3:00 p.m.
Canada vs. Finland 6:30 p.m.
Barring a David vs. Goliath level upset in the quarterfinals Finland and Hungary will play a relegation game on Saturday. The loser will drop down to the Division I, Group A tournament next year. The winner of THAT TOURNAMENT (going on now in Italy) will move up to the top group next year.
Yesterday’s Canada-Sweden game is available on ESPN+
An ARTICLE from yesterday’s Cape Breton Post featuring commit and far eastern Canada native Megan Mossey.
It seems that today’s (starting now) U.S. vs. Hungary quarterfinal final is not on NHL Network as the USA Hockey site says. It is available on ESPN+ though.
Sweden and Czechia won today’s previous quarterfinals. Canada/Finland, also on ESPN+, at 6:30.
And less than 15 minutes in, the score is already 6-0
U.S. 9, Hungary 0
“Records dropping as U.S. chases ‘Perfect Gold’”
“ Daley Ties Single-Tournament Goal Record As U.S. Advances To U18 Women’s Worlds Semifinals”
Semifinals are on Saturday:
🇺🇸 vs. 🇸🇪 2:00 p.m.
🇨🇦 vs. 🇨🇿 5:30 p.m.
The Gold Medal game is at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Bronze Medal game is at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
It does not appear that Saturday’s semifinal games will be on NHL Network, but will likely be on ESPN+.
Sunday’s Gold Medal game does seem like it will be on NHL Network though.
Finland loses this morning’s relegation game to Hungary 7-5. Finland will drop down to next lower level tournament next year. They are the first Finnish team to be relegated in any age group or gender. Hungary stays in the top level for a second year after not being there since 2014. Either Germany or Japan will be the team moving up next year.
Second semifinal
Canada 8, Czechia 1
Future Gophers score six of Canada’s eight goals
“Canada will defend gold in Sydney”
Gold Medal Game: 🇺🇸 vs. 🇨🇦 5:30 today on NHL Network
“Going for Gold in Cape Breton”
“Canada Will Defend Gold Against The U.S…..”
commits to watch (listed by tournament scoring)
🇨🇦 #20 Adrianna Milani 10-3-13
🇨🇦 #17 Rachel Piggott 7-5-12
🇺🇸 #14 Tala Hansen 6-6-12
🇨🇦 #5 Megan Mossey 2-9-11
🇨🇦 #19 Maddie McCullough 4-3-7
🇺🇸 #25 Annabelle Lovell 3-2-5
🇺🇸 #6 Sloane Hartmetz 1-4-5
🇺🇸 #5 Katya Sander 0-3-3
To clean things up, Germany wins the 1A tournament and will move up to the top division next year replacing Finland who was relegated down to 1A.
USA 2, Canada 0
🥇🇺🇸
🥈🇨🇦
🥉🇨🇿
“U.S. perfect in winning gold”
https://twitter.com/YouthHockeyHub/status/2013057291860250689?s=20
IIHF Directorate Awards
Best Goalkeeper: Norina Schrupkowski, Switzerland
Best Defender: Margaret Averill, USA (Princeton commit)
Best Forward: Jane Daley, USA (Ohio State commit)
Media All-Star Team & MVP
Goalkeeper: Norina Schrupkowski, Switzerland
Defender: Margaret Averill, USA (Princeton commit)
Defender: Megan Mossey, Canada
Forward: Jane Daley, USA (Ohio State commit)
Forward: Adrianna Milani, Canada
Forward: Sofia Ismael, Canada (Penn State commit)
Most Valuable Player: Jane Daley, USA
USA 2, Canada 0
🥇🇺🇸
🥈🇨🇦
🥉🇨🇿
“U.S. perfect in winning gold”
One day, it'll be fun to root for Milani and Mossey, who are incredible players. But for now, I'm happy to support my other favorite team against them.
Two assists for Talla Hansen. Was impressed by Sloane Hartmetz too.
With the World U18’s finished and players returning to their various teams, it’s time to move these up. I think the staff probably tries to add another defender for the class of ‘27, but otherwise might be done.
2026
The OWHL has started to use different software on their site (probably switched during the time the league was down during the Women’s World U18 tournament). The above links for our four Canadian were not working. I’ve redone them and they should be O.K. now.
Girls’ high school section playoffs are upon us. I’ll try my annual guess as to how likely the four commits playing high school are to make it to downtown St. Paul.
D Katya Sander (Holy Family) ‘26 - 55%
2AA seeding
1. Holy Family
2. Minnetonka
3. Eden Prairie
4. Prior Lake
5. Chaska/Chanhassen
6. Shakopee
7. New Prague
2AA looks like probably a two horse race. Holy Family has only three losses and beat Minnetonka 2-0 in their lone meeting this season, but I think that final might be close to a toss up.
G Payton Rolli (Warroad) ‘26 - 90%
8A seeding
1. Warroad
2. East Grand Forks
3. Thief River Falls
4. Crookston
5. Detroit Lakes
6. International Falls
Warroad, as usual, pretty much rules this section.
F Jaycee Chatleain (Hill-Murray) ‘27 - 85%
4AA seeding
1. Hill-Murray
2. Woodbury
3. Stillwater
4. Gentry
5. East Ridge
6. White Bear Lake
7. St. Paul/Two Rivers
Hill-Murray is very good. Woodbury is undefeated (one tie), but hasn’t played a real strong schedule. Woodbury’s sophomore forward Madison Boone is one to keep an eye on next summer when the class of ‘28 start making their commitments.
F Talla Hansen (Benilde) ‘27 - 40%
6AA seeding
1. Edina
2. Benilde-St. Margaret's
3. Wayzata
4. Bloomington Jefferson
5. Hopkins/Park
6. Robbinsdale Armstrong/Cooper
Benilde and Edina met once during the season with the Hornets winning 2-1. I think Edina has a significant depth advantage. Benilde’s depth doesn’t seem as strong to me as they’ve had in previous years.
“Meet Women’s Hockey’s Teenage Olympians”
It seemed that the staff might have interest in Sweden’s Ebba Hedqvist at one point, but nothing has seemed to develop out of it. Switzerland’s Laure Mériguet caught many eyes at the recent U18 Worlds, and the staff will likely be looking for a goalie in the next recruiting cycle. European recruits often seem to come out of nowhere, so a lot of this is guessing.
Out at BIG for the 2AA final (Minnetonka- Holy Family). First time here since the big remodel. Hardly recognize the place. 👍
https://twitter.com/sydneyisawolf/status/2021040200215036325?s=20
Sander was not among the five finalists for the award.
https://twitter.com/sydneyisawolf/status/2021040200215036325?s=20
Sander was not among the five finalists for the award.
Did the Gophers not have interest in the others?