Canada chases 3-peat at women's world U18 hockey championship

A bunch of Canadian teenagers are abuzz about their immediate and distant hockey futures.

Canada's team in Zug, Switzerland, is attempting their country's first three-peat at the women's world under-18 hockey championship in a decade. The defending champions open the 2024 tournament Saturday against Germany.

The young women also watched the Professional Women's Hockey League's first game Monday from their pre-tournament camp in Lugano, Italy. It sank in then what the new league means for their hockey futures.

"All of us are talking a lot about it because it's just so historical," said 17-year-old defender Chloe Primerano. "For all of us to be able to have a league that we could potentially go to and play in, it's pretty special."

Primerano, of North Vancouver, B.C., has committed to playing NCAA Division 1 women's hockey for the University of Minnesota starting in 2025-26.

"It's really cool to be able to have something that we can do after university and be able to make money," she said.

For Canada's coach Tara Watchorn, who won an Olympic gold medal with Canada in 2014 and played in previous women's leagues, seeing young players get excited about the prospect of making a living in hockey was meaningful to her.

"I've always felt that the girls at this age, without a professional league, they feel the pressure to have success at such a young age," said the 33-year-old from Newcastle, Ont. "The cool thing is now they can play long careers and hopefully not feel that pressure.

"It was really special in how I got to experience it, seeing the next generation take it in, and knowing that I was a part of the growth of our leagues. Then also to see the amazing women that I used to play with still there. I know how hard they