Team Canada has won its first game of the 2022 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Herning, Denmark. On Thursday, Canada beat Finland 4-1.
The Canadian goal scorers were Canadian Olympic gold medalists Sarah Nurse of Hamilton, Ontario, Marie-Philip Poulin of Beauceville, Quebec, Meaghan Mikkelson of Regina, Saskatchewan, and Blayre Turnbull of Stellarton, Nova Scotia. Nurse, Poulin and Turnbull won a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing. Mikkelson and Poulin also won a gold medal for Canada at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver and the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.
Three Canadians had a multi-point game. Nurse and Poulin each recorded two points as they both had one goal and one assist. Meanwhile, Canadian Olympic gold medalist Jocelyne Larocque of Ste. Anne, Manitoba had two assists. Larocque won a gold medal for Canada a the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi and the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
A major turning point in the contest came late in the first period. That is when Canadian Olympic gold medalist Ann-Renee Desbiens made a save on a penalty shot to keep the Canadian lead at 2-1 at the time. Desbiens won a gold medal for Canada at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
In other action on Thursday, the United States trounced Japan 10-0, and Hungary beat Germany 4-2. Canada is in Group A which means that all five teams from the group make the quarterfinals. Only the top three teams from Group B reach the knockout stage. Canada next plays Switzerland on Saturday.
