Muhammad Amanullah | The True Post
Date: October 29, 2026
Canada’s national women’s ice hockey team secured a significant 5-3 victory over the United States in Windsor, Ontario, ending an eight-game losing streak against its long-time rivals.
The victory came on Wednesday, October 28, in a pre-tournament exhibition game ahead of the 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship. Sarah Fillier scored the decisive goal with 8 minutes and 15 seconds remaining, while Laura Stacey sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final six seconds. The result marked Canada’s first victory over the United States since 2025.
The two teams are among the leading nations in women’s international hockey, and their meetings are often closely contested. Wednesday’s game was particularly important for Canada as it continued preparations for the upcoming world championship following the United States’ gold-medal victory over Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Canada Takes an Early Lead
Canada started aggressively and put pressure on the American defence in the opening period.
Daryl Watts opened the scoring on a power play, giving Canada a 1-0 advantage. Caitlin Kraemer then doubled the lead after receiving a pass from Nicole Gosling, putting Canada ahead 2-0.
The United States responded through captain Hilary Knight, who scored at 5:37 of the second period to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Canada restored its two-goal advantage when 18-year-old Rosalie Tremblay scored on a rebound at 9:46 of the second period. Her goal gave Canada a 3-1 lead heading into the final period.
United States Fights Back in the Third Period
The Americans mounted a determined comeback in the third period, putting Canada’s advantage under pressure.
Abbey Murphy scored at 3:48 to bring the United States within one goal. Caroline Harvey then found the net at 7:53, levelling the score at 3-3.
The comeback transformed the contest into a tense finish, with both teams searching for the goal that would break the deadlock.
Sarah Fillier Scores the Decisive Goal
With 8:15 remaining, Sarah Fillier restored Canada’s lead with a goal that put the home side ahead 4-3.
The Canadian defence and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens then worked to contain the American attack. Desbiens made several important saves as the United States pushed for another equaliser.
With just six seconds remaining, Laura Stacey scored into the empty net after the Americans removed their goaltender in favour of an extra attacker. The goal secured Canada’s 5-3 victory.
Canada’s five goals came from Watts, Kraemer, Tremblay, Fillier and Stacey. Knight, Murphy and Harvey scored for the United States.
Young Canadian Players Make Their Mark
The performance of Canada’s younger players was another notable feature of the game.
Kraemer and Tremblay each scored their first senior international goals, contributing to a victory that could provide valuable confidence as Canada prepares for the world championship.
Kraemer’s goal extended Canada’s early advantage, while Tremblay’s second-period strike restored the two-goal cushion after the United States had begun to close the gap.
Their contributions highlighted the role of emerging talent alongside experienced players in Canada’s national programme.
Victory Ends Eight-Game Losing Streak
The result carried added significance because Canada had lost its previous eight games against the United States.
The rivals last met in the gold-medal game at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, where the Americans won after tying the score late in regulation and scoring in overtime.
Canada’s latest victory does not determine the outcome of the upcoming world championship, but it gives the team a positive result ahead of the tournament and an opportunity to build momentum against its strongest international rival.
Canada and the United States Meet Again Friday
The teams are scheduled to meet again on Friday, October 30, in Plymouth, Michigan, in the second game of their pre-tournament series.
The 2026 IIHF Women’s World Championship is scheduled to take place from November 6 to 16 in Herning and Esbjerg, Denmark. Canada will aim to use its remaining preparation time to strengthen its performance before the international competition begins.
