Stonehouse, Team Canada, playing for bronze

Team Canada’s under-18 women’s hockey team experienced one of the biggest upsets in women’s international hockey on Saturday.

Team Canada, which includes Blenheim’s Abby Stonehouse, lost to Czechia 4-2 in the IIHF under-18 women’s world championship semifinals in Zug, Swithzerland. Canada outshot Czechia 47-12.

Earlier in the tournament in the preliminary round, Canada was able to defeat Czechia 8-1, and went 3-0 in the preliminary round. In the quarter-finals, Canada beat Switzerland 6-0. Going into the semifinal game, Canada had outscored opponents 35-1.

With the semifinal loss, Canada will play the loser of the United States-Finland semifinal game for the bronze medal on Sunday.

Stonehouse has had a strong tournament so far. In five games she has nine points with two goals and seven assists. She won gold last year with Canada at the 2023 U18 women’s world tournament