DAY 8 RECAP - 2025 FISU WINTER WORLD UNIVERSITY GAMES
Team Canada Women’s Hockey faced its toughest test, topping a tough Team Japan squad 3-0, advancing to the gold medal game with its third shutout in four games at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games.
WOMEN’S HOCKEY
Taking on a Japan team that they edged in the final of the 2023 FISU Games, Team Canada faced its stiffest of the 2025 Games. Ultimately, Canada’s speed, physicality, and depth were the difference as they beat the Japanese 3-0 to advance to the gold medal game on Monday.
After controlling muc of the early play, it was Canada taking the lead seven minutes into the game when Nipissing University’s Madison Desmarais gathered a puck in tight, deked, and beat Kiku Kobayashi to open the scoring. The goal was Desmarais’ fifth of the tournament.
The next 20 minutes were well contested, with both Kikuchi and Jordyn Verbeek (Concordia University) making timely saves for their respective programs. Midway through the second, with the game hanging in the balance, Mount Royal University’s Alex Spence double the Canadian lead. The sublime skater walked the line at the 8:16 mark, before beating Kikuchi with a wrister over the shoulder, giving Spence her first of the Games, and making it 2-0.
In the third period, the Canadians seized control of the play, but the two-goal advantage was hardly insurance. Bishop’s University’s Gaby Santerre, the reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, did what she does best, sending a laser off the cross bar and in, making it 3-0 and sealing the game for Canada.
Verbeek and Kaitlyn Ross (Mount Royal University) shared the 18 save shutout for Canada. Desmarais had a goal and an assist to pace Canada. The Canadians will play Czechia on Monday in the gold medal game in Torino.
SNOWBOARD
Snowboard Slopestyle silver medalist Amy McCarthy (Acadia University) qualified in the fourth spot for tomorrow’s Women’s Big Air finals. In the men’s competition, Jonah Cantelon (University of Toronto) made it through to the Men’s final by finishing in the ninth spot.
ALPINE SKIING
Six Canadian skiers competed in the Women’s Giant Slalom on Saturday. The Men’s Alpine Team will compete in the same event on Sunday, January 19, 2025. Marie-Penelope Robinson (Université de Montréal) from the women’s side is joining the ski cross team for the rest of the games, beginning with the first training on course tomorrow.
BIATHLON
The biathlon athletes were back in action today for the sprint event. On the women’s side, Aliah Turner (University of Calgary) secured the top Canadian result, finishing 26th. For the men, Liam Simons (UBC Okanagan) claimed 28th place.
MEN’S CURLING
University of Regina’s Josh Bryden, Adam Bukurak, Carter Williamson, and Ayden Whittmire went 1-1 on the day in Men’s Curling, with a 5-2 win over Korean, before a 7-4 setback to the United States. They now sit 4-2 on the Games, good for third place in the standings. They will play Norway and Ukraine on the January 19, 2025.
WOMEN’S CURLING
The University of Alberta foursome of Serena Gray-Withers, Catherine Clifford, Brianna Cullen, and Zoe Cinnamon continued to roll, keeping their perfect start going through day three of the FISU Games. They beat the hosts Italy by an 8-3 score, running their record to 5-0. Sitting at the top of the standings, they will match up Sweden and Japan on Sunday in Torino.