ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICE - Canadian captain Marie-Philip Poulin and goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens rewrote some women's world hockey championship history ahead of the final against the United States.
Poulin's first-period goal in Saturday's 8-1 semifinal win over Finland for her 87th career point in the tournament passed Hayley Wickenheiser for the most by a Canadian. The 34-year-old Poulin from Beauceville, Que., later added an assist for her 88th.
"She's been the heart of the hockey for Canada for a long time, and I'm just so happy that she gets recognized for that," Desbiens said. "But to be honest, she's so much more than a goal scorer and a point marker. She's just everything else too.
"If you really watch her play, it's all the little things she does away from the puck, all the stick lifts, blocked shots, the back checking."
The 31-year-old Desbiens of Clermont, Que., stopped 19 of 20 shots to become the winningest goalie of all time in the tournament with her 22nd career victory in world championships, which surpassed Florence Schelling of Switzerland.
Desbiens was injured shortly before the world championship, but played her third game Saturday and will start against the U.S. on Sunday.
"She's a warrior. She fights," Poulin said. "She was just coming back from injury. She wanted to be here, and she really put that work in to be here, so I'm really proud and happy for her."
Canada, the defending champions, and the U.S. clash in a world championship final a 23rd time in 24 tournaments dating back to the first in Ottawa in 1990.
"Even the little things like the celebration of Poulin's points, the celebration of Ann, all those things can help," Canadian head coach Troy Ryan said. "The grind of a tournament can wear you down after a while, and anything you get to get a little bit extra emotion into it is beneficial."
The U.S. weathered a challenge by host Czechia in a 2-1 win earlier Saturday. Canada beat the U.S. 6-5 in overtime in last year's final in Utica, N.Y.
"The Canada-U.S. rivalry is amazing, and you always want to face them in the final," Desbiens said. "You always know it's going to be a good one. Both teams really get the best out of each other. Everybody works so hard, and it's often a one-goal game."
Canada added another entry in the record book Saturday. Darryl Watts scored twice followed by goals from Emily Clark and Danielle Serdachny in a span of one minute 58 seconds late in the second period.
That beat the previous fastest four in 2:13 by Canadians Halli Krzyzaniak, Jennifer Wakefield and Meaghan Mikkelson twice against Russia in 2016.
The Finns, last year's bronze medallists, were a handful early for Canada. Captain Michelle Karvinen scored 46 seconds after the opening faceoff. Canadian defender Erin Ambrose produced the equalizer less than two minutes later.
Barrie's News Delivered To Your Inbox
By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: Central Ontario Broadcasting, 431 Huronia Rd, Barrie, Ontario, CA, https://www.cobroadcasting.com. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact
Poulin's one-timer off a Jennifer Gardiner feed at 14:41 of the first period for a go-ahead goal tilted momentum toward Canada before the second-period onslaught.
Gardiner, the tournament's top goal scorer with five, reunited with Poulin and Laura Stacey after Ryan stirred his forward lines in a quarterfinal victory over Japan.
Claire Thompson with a short-handed goal and Sarah Nurse with her first of the tournament scored in the third period of Canada's first semifinal against Finland since the hosts upset Canada 4-2 in 2019 in Espoo.
"I thought it was our most complete game that we've played, so that's exactly what you want in a semifinal," said Canadian forward Blayre Turnbull. "We generated a lot of offence from all four lines, but I thought defensively, we were pretty solid throughout the whole game too."
Watts made Finland pay for its unsuccessful offside challenge of her first goal by scoring her second on the subsequent bench minor. She was ejected from the game early in the third when she was assessed an illegal hit penalty for her open-ice check of Karvinen.
"I definitely don't think there is an intent there to target the head," Ryan said.
Wickenheiser, a Hockey Hall of Famer and an assistant general manage of the Toronto Maple Leafs, accrued 86 points from 1994 to 2016. Women's championships became an annual tournament starting in 1999.
At 39 goals, Poulin was two from breaking Jayna Hefford's Canadian record. Poulin's 49 assists were tied with Wickenheiser's record.
Poulin and Wickenheiser were also tied for the most world championship appearances by a Canadian player at 13. Poulin played in her first in 2009.
"It hasn't really sunk in, but honestly, I would not be here without any of my teammates along the way," said the captain, listing off former teammates Wickenheiser, Hefford, Caroline Ouellette and Gillian Apps.
"This is why I'm here. They made me love the game even more."
Natalie Spooner, the PWHL's MVP in its inaugural season with Toronto Sceptres, was scratched for a second time in the tournament with defender Micah Zandee-Hart and goalie Eve Gascon also sitting out Saturday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2025.
