Mississauga forward grabs two assists to help Team Canada defeat Americans

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Published January 11, 2023 at 5:26 pm

Team Canada scores one of its three goals against the U.S. earlier today. (Photo: Hockey Canada Twitter)

Mississauga’s Charlotte Pieckenhagen set up two goals in just over four minutes during the second period this afternoon (Jan. 11) in Sweden to help Canada erase a 1-0 deficit and topple arch-rival United States 3-1 at the 2023 International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) Women’s U18 championship.

Pieckenhagen, 16, drew the first assist on both markers–the tying goal from Caitlin Kraemer and eventual winning goal off the stick of Emmalee Pais. Both goals came in the latter stages of the second frame.

The two assists were the first points of the tournament for the Mississauga forward, who’ll turn 17 next Wednesday (Jan. 18).

Kraemer scored her second goal of the contest early in the third period as Canada, which outshot the Americans decisively 38-12, finished the round-robin portion of the tourney with a perfect 3-0 record.

The Canadians now advance to the playoff round of the eight-team tournament, as does the U.S. with its 2-1 round-robin record.

Pieckenhagen, the lone Mississauga skater on the Canadian squad competing this week in Ostersund, Sweden, plays for the Mississauga Hurricanes in the Ontario Women’s Hockey Association’s (OWHA) Under-22 Elite loop.

Mississauga’s Courtney Birchard-Kessel is Team Canada’s head coach.

The tournament concludes with the gold medal game this Sunday (Jan. 15), a contest that could very well feature a rematch of the two North American rivals.

In earlier round-robin play, Canada picked up wins over Finland (8-0 on Sunday) and Sweden (4-2 on Monday). Finland and Sweden have also moved on to the playoff round.

Pieckenhagen has nine goals and 12 assists in 16 OWHA games so far this season. Last season for Ridley College (St. Catharines), the 5-foot-10 forward collected seven goals and seven assists in 11 games.

Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Japan are also competing at the tournament.

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