Wisconsin's Laila Edwards makes her mark and five former Badgers win gold with Canada at IIHF world hockey championship
The United States capped a 12-day run at the women’s hockey world championships Sunday with a silver medal. Laila Edwards, meanwhile, further established herself as one of the top young players in the game.
The sophomore forward for Wisconsin was named the most valuable player of the tournament after Team USA lost, 6-5, to Canada in the championship game at Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.
Edwards finished with six goals on 10 shots in seven games. She had one goal and one assist in the championship game and a hat trick in a semifinal win over Finland.
In December Edwards made history as the first Black women to play for the senior national team when the U.S. faced Canada in the Rivalry Series. This was her first appearance at the International Ice Hockey Federation world championships.
In earning MVP distinction, she joins Taylor Heise as the only players to be named MVP at the U18 and senior team world championship.
Final statistics: United States
Final statistics: Canada
There was a Wisconsin Badgers feel to the tournament. The Team USA roster included Edwards as well as sophomores Caroline Harvey and Kirsten Simms, junior Lacey Eden and senior Britta Curl, who all suited up for UW this past season, as well as Badgers’ great Hilary Knight.
The Canadian roster included former Badgers Sarah Nurse, Ann-Renee Desbiens, Emily Clark, Kristen Campbell and Blayre Turnbull.
In the championship game, current or former Badgers accounted for seven of the 14 points scored by the United States and had a hand in four of the five goals scored.
Team USA tied the game with about 5 minutes left in regulation after Eden dug out a puck from behind the net and found Harvey.
Here are a few other Wisconsin notables from the world championship.
Harvey led the tournament in assists and led the United States with a +12 rating. She made the media's all-tournament team.
Knight won her 14th worlds medal, which allowed her to pass Canada’s Hayley Wickenheiser for the most all-time.
The United States beat Canada, 1-0, in overtime on April 8. Simms scored the winner and Harvey got the assist.
Desbiens recorded two shutouts for Canada, won four games and posted a .936 save percentage. Her goals against average was 1.36.
Clark finished the tournament with two goals and one assist. Her goal in the 51st minute tied the championship game, 4-4.
Turnbull was Canada’s player of the game after recording the opening goal in a 4-3 victory over Czechia in the semifinals Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin hockey's Laila Edwards stars at IIHF world championship
