U.S., Canada meet in women’s hockey world championship final

The U.S. and Canada will meet in the world women’s hockey championship final for the 21st time in 22 all-time tournaments.

In Saturday semifinals, the U.S. beat Czechia (formerly called the Czech Republic) 9-1.

Then Canada dumped Switzerland 5-1, with a hat trick from Sarah Fillier, to set up Sunday’s showdown.

For the U.S., Hilary Knight, Amanda Kessel and Tessa Janecke each scored twice. Cayla Barnes, Caroline Harvey and Taylor Heise each had three assists.

Aerin Frankel got the nod for a fourth consecutive game, matching the longest run for a U.S. women’s goalie at an Olympics or worlds in at least 26 years.

The U.S. and Canada met in 26 of the 28 all-time Olympic or world championship finals.

Canada won the last three global championships — 2021 Worlds, 2022 Olympics, 2022 Worlds — its first major final win streak since its last one ended in 2004.

It is also on a five-game win streak overall against the U.S., its longest run in that rivalry in 13 years, after winning 4-3 in a shootout in the preliminary round last Monday.

The U.S. has a significantly new-look roster at these worlds without Olympic captain Kendall Coyne Schofield (pregnant), three-time Olympic forward Brianna Decker (retired) and its No. 1 goalies from the last two Winter Games. Maddie Rooney and Alex Cavallini were cut from a tryout camp.

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As a young teen, Taylor Heise tacked a poster-size goal sheet in her bedroom, checking off each one as she met it. The Minnesotan also uncapped a black Sharpie and wrote the word “Olympics” in a strategic place on the bright green wall: just above her light switch.

The family since had the room repainted. The word is no longer there.

“I can see it in my mind,” she said. “I