CESKE BUDEJOVICE, Czech Republic
An overtime goal from Tessa Janecke on Sunday earned the US a 4-3 win over reigning champions Canada to win gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship as the latest chapter in their rivalry was decided in dramatic fashion.
With less than three minutes remaining in the first period of overtime, Janecke got to the puck ahead of goalie Ann-Renee Desbiens to score from close range before skating away and throwing her stick in the air in celebration.
Photo: Reuters
“I saw a turnover and went to the net, hoping to put it in,” Janecke told TSN. “There’s nothing like it... It was just so much fun.”
The rivals have faced off for gold at 23 of 24 world championships, including last year’s gold-medal game, which Canada won 6-5 in overtime, along with meeting in six of seven Olympic finals.
It was the 11th title for the US who are closing in on Canada’s haul of 13. They gained sweet revenge for their loss last year when they hosted the tournament, and at the Arena Ceske Budejovice they laid down a marker ahead of next year’s Olympics.
Photo: Reuters
“Just shows how strong we are as a group and how much we can persevere through anything. I wouldn’t want to do it with any other group,” Janecke said.
After a scoreless first period, the second saw four goals in the space of 2 minutes, 16 seconds, with the US taking a 2-0 lead with goals in quick succession from Caroline Harvey and Abbey Murphy before Canada drew level.
Harvey celebrated the opening goal by miming holding a phone to her ear, after she appeared to lose a mobile phone on the ice during her side’s quarter-final win over Germany.
After Taylor Heise put the US in front again, Canada recovered with Sarah Fillier equalizing with less than six minutes remaining and ultimately sending the match to sudden-death overtime.
Gwyneth Philips made some vital saves in overtime before Janecke found the winner from a Heise pass in what was the longest game in women’s worlds history.
Earlier, Finland won their 15th bronze medal in the competition with a 4-3 overtime win over the Czech Republic after the hosts had led 2-0 at the end of the first period.
The tournament was a roaring success in the Czech Republic, with a total attendance of 122,331, topping the previous highest of 119,231 set in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 2007.
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