Canada dominated Switzerland with a decisive 9-0 victory in their opening game of the 2026 IIHF U18 womens World Championship, held at the Membertou Sport and Wellness Center in Sydney, Nova Scotia on January 10, 2026.[https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en/news/canada-downs-switzerland-9-0-at-u18-womens-worlds](https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en/news/canada-downs-switzerland-9-0-at-u18-womens-worlds)
Strong Start for Canada
Table of Contents
The Canadians exploded with five goals in the first period, setting the tone for the remainder of the game. Alida Korte, an assistant captain, led the charge with two goals and an assist, earning her the player of the game honors. Rachel Piggott contributed a goal and two assists, while Kendall Doiron, Laurie Aubin, and Adrianna Milani each added a goal and an assist to the impressive offensive display.
Team Depth and Strategy
Canada’s head coach, Vicky Sunohara, emphasized the team’s focus on self-improvement and building strong habits. “We are really focusing on ourselves and fixing little things, playing with peopel that we have not played with,” Sunohara stated. [https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en/news/canada-downs-switzerland-9-0-at-u18-womens-worlds](https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en/news/canada-downs-switzerland-9-0-at-u18-womens-worlds) She highlighted the importance of a 60-minute effort, noting that while the team started somewhat slowly, they quickly found their rhythm.
Sunohara also underscored the team’s depth, stating, “we feel like we have a lot of depth on this team. Everyone is getting on the ice and we want to continue that with a lot of games in a short amount of time.” This depth will be crucial as Canada navigates a demanding tournament schedule.
Defensive Focus and upcoming Games
Rachel Piggott echoed the emphasis on a well-rounded game, stating, “I think we are super hard working… We stuck to our 200-foot game, playing defense first and then focusing on offense as you need to make sure the puck stays out of your own net to win the game.” The team’s commitment to defensive duty was evident in their dominant performance, outshooting Switzerland 51-11.Lea-Rose Charrois secured an 11-save shutout for Canada.
Canada, competing in group A alongside Sweden, Hungary, and Switzerland, will face Hungary in their next game on Sunday, January 11, 2026. Sweden currently shares the Group A lead with Canada after defeating Hungary 4-1 earlier in the day.
Other Tournament Results
In Group B action, the United states achieved a resounding 13-0 victory over Slovakia, and Czechia defeated Finland 9-1. [https://www.iihf.com/en/news/2026-womens-u18-world-championship](https://www.iihf.com/en/news/2026-womens-u18-world-championship)
Key Takeaways
- Canada began the 2026 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship with a dominant 9-0 win over Switzerland.
- Alida Korte was named player of the game with two goals and an assist.
- Canada’s coaching staff is emphasizing team depth,defensive responsibility,and a 60-minute effort.
- Canada will next face Hungary on January 11, 2026.
Related reading