Alyssa White netted a hat trick to lead Canada to a 7-0 victory over Norway and a spot in the gold-medal game of the inaugural Para ice hockey women’s world championships on Saturday in Dolny Kubín, Slovakia.
Alanna Mah, with two goals, Raphaelle Tousignant and Sheena Darnley added the others for Canada.
The victory allowed Canada to finish atop Group B in the six-team tournament.
The Canadians now await the winner between the United States and Great Britain.
Canada has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
The bronze- and gold-medal games will be played Sunday.
All games are being streamed live on the Paralympic YouTube channel and World Para Ice Hockey Facebook page.
The tournament also features Australia and Team World, which is made up of players from nine countries.
World Para Ice Hockey needs to organize at least two women’s world championships before submitting a proposal to the International Paralympic Committee’s governing board to be included as a women’s only sport in the 2030 Paralympics.
Para hockey at the Paralympics is currently mixed-gender, but only three women — two from Norway, one from China — have ever participated. It’s the main reason why the Winter Games have a pronounced gender gap, with women representing only 24 per cent of 564 athletes in Beijing.
As a non-Paralympic sport, women’s Para hockey does not fall under the Hockey Canada umbrella — although the governing body’s foundation is a key sponsor — and the national team does not receive funding from Sport Canada or Own The Podium.
WATCH | Canada prepares for first-ever women’s Para hockey worlds in Slovakia:
It’s a big week as Team Canada gears up to compete in the first-ever World Para Ice Hockey women’s world championship taking place from Aug. 25 to 31 in Dolny Kubin, Slovakia.
