TORINO, ITALY - A pair of local Nipissing Lakers hockey players will be looking for gold on Monday.
Team Canada Women’s Hockey, which includes Lakers Malory Dominico and Madison Desmarais, faced its toughest test, topping a tough Team Japan squad 3-0, advancing to the gold medal game with its third shutout in four games at the 2025 FISU Winter World University Games.
Taking on a Japan team that they edged in the final of the 2023 FISU Games, Team Canada faced its stiffest of the 2025 Games. Ultimately, Canada’s speed, physicality, and depth were the difference as they beat the Japanese 3-0 to advance to the gold medal game on Monday.
See related: Two Lakers ready for FISU World Winter University Games
After controlling muc of the early play, it was Canada taking the lead seven minutes into the game when Desmarais gathered a puck in tight, deked, and beat Kiku Kobayashi to open the scoring. The goal was Desmarais’ fifth of the tournament.
The next 20 minutes were well contested, with both Kikuchi and Jordyn Verbeek (Concordia University) making timely saves for their respective programs. Midway through the second, with the game hanging in the balance, Mount Royal University’s Alex Spence double the Canadian lead. The sublime skater walked the line at the 8:16mark, before beating Kikuchi with a wrister over the shoulder, giving Spence her first of the Games, and making it 2-0.
In the third period, the Canadians seized control of the play, but the two-goal advantage was hardly insurance. Bishop’s University’s Gaby Santerre, the reigning U SPORTS Player of the Year, did what she does best, sending a laser off the cross bar and in, making it 3-0 and sealing the game for Canada.
Verbeek and Kaitlyn Ross (Mount Royal University) shared the 18 save shutout for Canada. Desmarais had a goal and an assist to pace Canada.
The Canadians will play Czechia on Monday in the gold medal game in Torino.
Malory Dominico and Desmarais are hoping for gold which Malory's sister Maria Dominico achieved with Team Canada at the 2023 FISU Winter World University Games.
