ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE, Czechia – Team USA defeated Team Canada 2-1 in their preliminary round matchup at the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship on Sunday night.
U.S. defender Lee Stecklein opened the scoring midway through the first period with a point shot through traffic that beat Ann-Renée Desbiens. Megan Keller doubled the lead in the second period after finishing an end-to-end chance, which would ultimately be the game-winner.
Open ice, a nifty move and a rip from the slot.💪
Textbook from Megan Keller to put Team USA up 2-0! #WomensWorldspic.twitter.com/T1wy2995nD
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 13, 2025
U.S. starter Aerin Frankel saved 18 of the 19 of the shots she faced for the win.
Here’s some key takeaways from the game.
Lee Stecklein’s return
Stecklein was arguably highlight of the U.S. roster when it was announced last month. The six-time world champion hadn’t played for Team USA since the 2023 World Championships in Brampton, Ont., after which she took time off from the U.S. women’s national team.
Since then, Stecklein had remained one of the very best defenders in the world for the Minnesota Frost in the Professional Women’s Hockey League and won the league’s first-ever Walter Cup championship in 2024.
She scored in Team USA’s opening game against Finland on Wednesday, and emotional in the locker room when she was given the team’s “player of the game robe.”
“I’m just really happy to be back with you all,” she said in the clip shared by USA Hockey.”
Big win and a fresh player of the game robe!
👏 to Lee Stecklein#WomensWorldspic.twitter.com/JeFUTMLvEw
— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 9, 2025
Canada’s early offensive struggles
Canada struggled to generate much offense early in the game, with only six shots on goal — half of the U.S. shot generation (12) — in the first period.
The American forecheck, and defenders, made it difficult for Canada to set up deep in the American zone and sustain any significant offensive zone time. After the first period, Brianne Jenner was succinct when asked what they needed to do in the second period, saying “generate more offense.”
That was a work in progress in the second and third periods. Canada finally got on the board with Laura Stacey’s breakaway goal in the third period. And the Canadians had some good chances late in the game to force overtime, but couldn’t beat Frankel for a second time.
.@LauraStacey7 on the breakaway. 💪
Stacey en échappée. 💪#WomensWorlds | #MondialFémininpic.twitter.com/MAIBvhTjOq
— Hockey Canada (@HockeyCanada) April 13, 2025
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