Canada opens women’s world hockey campaign with 5-1 victory over Sweden

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
November 07, 2026

Photo Courtesy: The Associated Press

Canada began its campaign at the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship with a commanding 5-1 win over Sweden on Friday in Herning, Denmark.

Jessie Eldridge led the Canadian attack with two goals and an assist, helping the team secure its first victory under newly appointed head coach Kori Cheverie.

Canada also capitalized on its power-play opportunities, scoring three times with the man advantage to establish control of the Group B matchup.

The tournament marks a new chapter for the Canadian women’s national team, which has undergone significant changes following its overtime defeat to the United States in the Olympic gold-medal game earlier this year.

The squad is now led by general manager Danièle Sauvageau and Cheverie, who are tasked with building a younger team capable of challenging the Americans for international supremacy.

Canada is competing without longtime captain Marie-Philip Poulin, who is recovering from knee surgery. Leadership duties are instead shared by Laura Stacey and Renata Fast.

The roster also features several young players, including 18-year-olds Rosalie Tremblay and Hayley McDonald, as well as 19-year-old Sara Manness. The team’s average age of just over 26 makes it Canada’s youngest women’s world championship lineup since 2013.

Canada is seeking to reclaim the world title after losing to the United States in the 2025 championship final. The Americans also defeated Canada in overtime during the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Canadians will next face Japan on Sunday as they continue their preliminary-round campaign in Group B.

The gold-medal game is scheduled for November 16.