Now that the 2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship is in the books, here are a few thoughts from the players and coaches following the playoff-round games at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S.

Hayley McDonald – Canada

On playing in front of 5,039 fans in the gold-medal game:

I've never played in an atmosphere like this, and it was truly something that I'm never going to forget.

On Canada’s younger players:

Our younger group is definitely really strong. I have all the faith in them to win it next year.

Jaylee MacKinnon – Canada

On what she learned at the tournament:

Probably just to be consistent. To never give up or lack confidence and to just persevere.

Laurie Aubin – Canada

Biggest takeaway from her first time suiting up for Team Canada:

The community that you become a part of when you're invited to one of these camps and you get to wear the jersey — it's not something I can describe. I'm extremely grateful that this opportunity has been given to me and I'm going to keep it in my heart.

Coach Vicky Sunohara - Canada

On Canada's younger players:

It's a privilege to work with them and to be a part of a little piece of their development and their growth. In the room, I was just like, ‘You're going to have lots of opportunities. Learn from it, but don't beat yourself up about it too long.'

Bianca Birrittieri – USA

On playing in the gold-medal game:

It was unbelievable. It's always an honor to wear the jersey, so just getting the chance to play in the gold medal game and get the win is just incredible.

Coach Courtney Kennedy – USA

On her team's run to 'Perfect Gold':

I've never been a stats person. I don't look at any of the stats afterwards, I don't care about them. When we're here on a mission, it's one thing, and the kids only care about getting one thing and whatever comes from it. I'm proud of everybody, but that's something I would reflect on and look at next week.

On Maggie Averill’s leadership as captain:

She's been on the team for a while. Just being around her and seeing her grow into that leadership role even more — there's so many skills they pick up because they're so young, even through failure and and falling short. It's a lot to handle when you're a young kid, and it's fun to see her have the people respond. All the kids are on board.

To be honest, there's so many leaders in that locker room. They're not wearing letters. There's a lot of them I could put a letter on like easily. I think that also makes it very, very easy for leaders to lead when you have others that are willing to follow, but they understand all their roles involved.

Kylie Amelkovich - USA

On her chemistry with Jane Daley:

We play together at school. We've been playing with each other for about four months now. I think every game it gets even better, almost like mind reading.

Tereza Gildainova - Czechia

On scoring the late game-winning goal to advance Czechia past Switzerland in the quarter-finals:

I went for my last shift. There was two minutes left, and I was like, ‘We have to score now, or that's gonna be end of the game.’ I was kind of high and I saw the puck, so I just shot. It went in, so I was happy.

Norina Muller – Switzerland

On Swiss all-star goalie Norina Schrupkowski:

She's unbelievable. She catches everything, every shot, and gives the team so much power from behind. For these results, we need a goalie like Schrupkowski. I'm so happy for her.

​Norina Schrupkowski - Switzlerland

After Switzerland's quarter-final loss to Czechia:

It's hurting in my heart, and I'm really sad about it. But I think I can be proud of what I did in all of the games here.