Team Canada has won its first game of the 2024 Women’s World Hockey Championships in Utica, New York. On Thursday at the Adirondack Bank Center, Canada defeated Finland 4-1.
It was a strong game offensively for Canadian defenseman Ella Shelton of Ingersoll, Ontario. Shelton, who won a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, led Canada in scoring with three points (one goal and two assists). The other Canadian goal scorers were Julia Gosling of London, Ontario, and Canadian Olympic gold medalists Brianne Jenner of Oakville, Ontario, and Emma Maltais of Burlington, Ontario. Jenner won a gold medal for Canada at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and teamed up with Shelton and Maltais in winning gold at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Shelton, Jenner and Maltais are in the PWHL. Shelton is with New York, Jenner is with Ottawa and Maltais is with Toronto.
Team Canada is one of three undefeated teams to date in Group A at the Women’s World Hockey Championships. They are joined by the United States and the Czech Republic. On Wednesday, the United States beat Switzerland and Czech Republic beat Finland by identical scores of 4-1. Canada next plays Switzerland on Friday afternoon.
