Stryker Zablocki scored twice and Marilou Grenier made 20 saves as Canada blanked Czechia 5-0 Tuesday at the world women's under-18 hockey championship.
Canada finished the preliminary round in top spot in Group B with nine points from three regulation wins and will face Japan in Thursday's quarterfinals.
Sydney Sawyer, of Rama First Nation, had a goal and an assist for Canada, while Alex Therien and Anaïs Leprohon also scored.
“We’re starting to understand that our goals aren’t going to come from being fancy or skating around the perimeter," Canada head coach Vicky Sunohara said. We have been talking about attacking the middle, getting pucks through and winning net-front battles. I think we’re doing a better job of getting to those areas.
'(The players) are seeing that when we do that, when we outwork their defence and their goalie, that we’re having some success."
Daniela Novakova stopped 39 shots for Czechia, which finished second in Group B with five points and will face Finland in the quarterfinals.
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Canada is looking for its eighth championship at the event. The United States won in 2024 after Canada won the previous two titles.
In other results Tuesday, the U.S. shut out Finland 5-0 and finished atop Group A, winning all three of its preliminary-round games.
Elsewhere, Switzerland beat Slovakia 5-3 and Sweden edged Japan 5-4 in overtime.
The U.S. will play Slovakia and Sweden will face Switzerland in Thursday's other quarterfinals.
