Norina Schrupkowski of Switzerland was named IIHF Directorate Best Goalie.
photo: Matt Zambonin/IIHF
Well, after 21 games played before more than 26,000 fans, the U18 Women’s Worlds left behind many a great memory. Here are the Top Ten highlights from Sydney and Membertou.
Game 1—Six helpers for Amelkovich
In 718 previous WW18 games going back to the start, in 2008, four players had recorded as many as five assists in a game. But when the Americans opened the 2026 tournament against Slovakia, Kylie Amelkovich had six in a 13-0 rout. And she was a model of consistency, notching two in each period.
Game 12—Muller lifts the Swiss
Sure, Hungary came into the tournament as decided underdogs because they were newly-promoted, but they didn’t play like outliers. They put up a good fight against Sweden before losing, 4-1, and against the Swiss they kept the game goalless through two periods of play. But early in the third, Norina Muller finally broke the ice and added an empty netter to seal a crucial 2-0 win.
Game 13—Lopusanova ties, almost beats, Coyne Schofield’s record
Slovakia’s Nela Lopusanova scored a goal against Sweden to give her 22 goals and 33 career points in WW18 play, matching USA’s Kendall Coyne Schofield. With this out of the way, the 17-year-old then tried to make it 23 and 34 with an insane lacrosse move. She got the puck on her stick, came around in good time, but was foiled at the last second by Sweden’s captain Ebba Westerlind. So close!
Game 14—Gildainova’s late heroics
Locked in a crucial 1-1 tie with Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Czechia was the better team but couldn't get that second goal. As the clock ticked down in the third period, Swiss goalie Norina Schrupkowski was brilliant, and overtime looked inevitable. With less than two minutes to play, however, Tereza Gildainova backhanded a loose puck in during a scramble, and the Czechs advanced to the semi-finals while the Swiss went home.
Game 16—Milani scores four
While most of the attention was deservedly on Jane Daley, Canada’s Adrianna Milani was also putting together a sensational tournament. Against Finland, she scored four times, bringing her tournament total to ten, just two behind Daley. Neither top scorer had a goal in the gold-medal game.
Game 17—Heizl & Polonyi lead Hungary to huge victory
Hungary trailed Finland 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 yet rallied and defeated Finland 7-5 in the game for 7th place. It was the most goals they had ever scored in WW18 play and the victory was keyed by their two best players. Captain Reka Hiezl had two goals and two assists while Petra Polonyi had a hat trick and five points, putting Hungary in 7th place and Finland 8th and last place.
Game 18—Daley's dozen
Jane Daley started the tournament with three straight hat tricks, then had two goals in her next game and in this, a 9-1 win over Sweden, she counted her 12th goal. That bettered compatriot Haley Skarupa, who had eleven in 2012.
Game 20—Czechs repeat bronze
Czechia and Sweden entered the penultimate game on a downer, both teams having lost soundly the previous day in the semi-finals. But coach Dusan Andrasovsky rallied the troops and the Czechs built up a 3-0 lead, holding on during a wild ending to win, 4-3, and claim their third straight WW18 medal.
Game 21—Gold-medal classic
The Americans had won nine previous gold medals and Canada eight, so it was no surprise when these teams met for gold again this year. They had combined for more than 100 goals in the tournament against lower-ranked opponents, but it wasn’t likely this was going to be a high-scoring game. Canada had much the better of play, but the Americans scored two timely goals and rode a fantastic performance from goalie Bianca Birrittieri to gold.
Directorate Award for Schrupkowski
Before the medals were handed out on the final day, the IIHF announced its Directorate Awards. And while the North Americans dominated, Schrupkowsi’s name was called as Best Goalie. She made more saves than any other goalie in the tournament, and in four games had a sensational GAA of 2.63. She became only the second Swiss woman so honoured, after Saskia Maurer in 2019.
Game 1—Six helpers for Amelkovich
In 718 previous WW18 games going back to the start, in 2008, four players had recorded as many as five assists in a game. But when the Americans opened the 2026 tournament against Slovakia, Kylie Amelkovich had six in a 13-0 rout. And she was a model of consistency, notching two in each period.
Game 12—Muller lifts the Swiss
Sure, Hungary came into the tournament as decided underdogs because they were newly-promoted, but they didn’t play like outliers. They put up a good fight against Sweden before losing, 4-1, and against the Swiss they kept the game goalless through two periods of play. But early in the third, Norina Muller finally broke the ice and added an empty netter to seal a crucial 2-0 win.
Game 13—Lopusanova ties, almost beats, Coyne Schofield’s record
Slovakia’s Nela Lopusanova scored a goal against Sweden to give her 22 goals and 33 career points in WW18 play, matching USA’s Kendall Coyne Schofield. With this out of the way, the 17-year-old then tried to make it 23 and 34 with an insane lacrosse move. She got the puck on her stick, came around in good time, but was foiled at the last second by Sweden’s captain Ebba Westerlind. So close!
Game 14—Gildainova’s late heroics
Locked in a crucial 1-1 tie with Switzerland in the quarter-finals, Czechia was the better team but couldn't get that second goal. As the clock ticked down in the third period, Swiss goalie Norina Schrupkowski was brilliant, and overtime looked inevitable. With less than two minutes to play, however, Tereza Gildainova backhanded a loose puck in during a scramble, and the Czechs advanced to the semi-finals while the Swiss went home.
Game 16—Milani scores four
While most of the attention was deservedly on Jane Daley, Canada’s Adrianna Milani was also putting together a sensational tournament. Against Finland, she scored four times, bringing her tournament total to ten, just two behind Daley. Neither top scorer had a goal in the gold-medal game.
Game 17—Heizl & Polonyi lead Hungary to huge victory
Hungary trailed Finland 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 yet rallied and defeated Finland 7-5 in the game for 7th place. It was the most goals they had ever scored in WW18 play and the victory was keyed by their two best players. Captain Reka Hiezl had two goals and two assists while Petra Polonyi had a hat trick and five points, putting Hungary in 7th place and Finland 8th and last place.
Game 18—Daley's dozen
Jane Daley started the tournament with three straight hat tricks, then had two goals in her next game and in this, a 9-1 win over Sweden, she counted her 12th goal. That bettered compatriot Haley Skarupa, who had eleven in 2012.
Game 20—Czechs repeat bronze
Czechia and Sweden entered the penultimate game on a downer, both teams having lost soundly the previous day in the semi-finals. But coach Dusan Andrasovsky rallied the troops and the Czechs built up a 3-0 lead, holding on during a wild ending to win, 4-3, and claim their third straight WW18 medal.
Game 21—Gold-medal classic
The Americans had won nine previous gold medals and Canada eight, so it was no surprise when these teams met for gold again this year. They had combined for more than 100 goals in the tournament against lower-ranked opponents, but it wasn’t likely this was going to be a high-scoring game. Canada had much the better of play, but the Americans scored two timely goals and rode a fantastic performance from goalie Bianca Birrittieri to gold.
Directorate Award for Schrupkowski
Before the medals were handed out on the final day, the IIHF announced its Directorate Awards. And while the North Americans dominated, Schrupkowsi’s name was called as Best Goalie. She made more saves than any other goalie in the tournament, and in four games had a sensational GAA of 2.63. She became only the second Swiss woman so honoured, after Saskia Maurer in 2019.