Fast start propels defending champion Canadian women to U18 world hockey final

Canada scored three times in the first 5:12 of the game and then coasted to an 8-1 win over the Czech Republic in the under-18 women's world hockey championship semifinals on Saturday in Sydney, N.S.

Maddie McCullough (2:06), Laurie Aubin (4:46) and Rachel Piggott (5:12) gave Canada an early lead it would not relinquish, earning the defending champions a berth in Sunday's gold-medal game (6:30 p.m. ET) against the United States, which flattened Sweden 9-1 in Saturday's other semifinal.

"As a player and as a coach, there is nothing better than a Canada versus [the United States] final. We did not look ahead throughout the tournament, but now that we are [at the gold-medal stage], it is very exciting," said Canadian head coach Vicky Sunohara.

"We have been saying it all along, but we have to play the right way, keep things simple and stick to the details. The team that can play the closest to a full 60 minutes [on Sunday] will have the better opportunity and that is what we are focused on."

Adrianna Milani scored twice in the third period for Canada, while Sofia Ismael, McCullough and Piggott also added goals in the final period at Centre 200. Eleven players recorded at least a point in the win. Ismael added three assists, giving her a team-leading 15 points through five games.

Lucie Sindelarova scored 41 seconds into the third period for the Czechs to trim the deficit to 3-1, but that's as close as they would come.

Canadian goaltender Lea-Rose Charrois stopped 20 shots to post her third win of the tournament. Canada outshot the Czech Republic 37-21.

Following the game, Hayley McDonald, Rosalie Tremblay and Piggott were named Canada's three best players of the tournament.