Canada holds off Czechia for 3-2 win, advances to semifinals at women’s worlds

HERNING — Canada is through to the semifinals of the women’s world hockey championship, but not without facing a few anxious moments against Czechia.

Renata Fast’s second-period goal stood as the winner as Canada held off the Czechs 3-2 in the quarterfinals on Friday.

“We have a lot of respect for Czechia; they played a great game,” Canada defender Erin Ambrose said. “I think we did a good job five-on-five; we had a lot of attempts on net, a lot of shots on net, but they played desperate and blocked a lot of shots.”

Sarah Fillier and Rebecca Leslie also scored for Canada, which went undefeated in four games with a plus-25 goal differential in pool play. Ève Gascon made 14 saves at KVIK Hockey Arena.

Kristyna Kaltounkova replied with a pair of power-play goals, and Noemi Neubauerov tallied two assists as Czechia scored more than one goal against Canada for the first time in six encounters in all competitions.

Klara Peslarova stopped 38 shots in the Czech net.

“From the start, we wanted to set the standard of being physical, going hard on them, going to the net, but also being strong in our zone, and I think we did that well. I’m very proud of my team,” Kaltounkova said. “It’s a testament to our team’s strength that we’re knocking on that door to beat the North American team.”

Canada will face Sweden in Sunday’s semifinals after the Swedes blanked Switzerland 1-0 on Friday.

The United States meets Finland in the other semifinal. The Americans thumped Denmark 14-0, while Finland beat Germany 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

After a goalless first period, Canada struck twice early in the second. Fillier scored 1:29 into the period when she pounced on a loose puck in front of the net, then Leslie ripped a wrist shot past Peslarova on the power play at 4:12.

Kaltounova scored on a net-front scramble to cut the deficit at 11:01, but Fast restored Canada’s two-goal lead with a point shot at four-on-four play before the period finished.

“I didn’t think it’d be the game-winner,” said Fast, Canada’s captain for the game. “I thought we’d keep it at 3-1 or score more goals, but I’m happy that it found its way to the back of the net.”

Kaltounova, who was selected first overall by the New York Sirens in the Professional Women’s Hockey League 2025 draft, beat Gascon off a rebound five minutes into the third period for her second of the game.

The 24-year-old later took an elbowing penalty, putting Canada on the power play with 83 seconds remaining.

This is a corrected story. A previous version erroneously stated Canada would play Finland in the semifinals. Canada will in fact play Sweden.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2026.

The Canadian Press