Team Canada are the current holders of the competition and will be looking for a fourth straight gold medal at under 18 level, after claiming a 3-1 victory over Russia in their semi-final clash.

In a rematch of last year's semi-final, which saw Canada edge Russia 1-0 in overtime, Russia took an early lead through Fanuza Kadirova and, given last year's close contest, Canada might have been fearing the worst.

However the first period of the three-period match ended level as Jaycee Gebhard converted a pass from Lindsay Agnew to tie the scores at 1-1.

Canada continued their push towards the final in the second period, with a face-off win by Sarah Potomak proving decisive, as she was able to find Elizabeth Giguere, who squared the puck for Shae Labbe to complete the turnaround and give Canada a 2-1 lead.

Despite dominating the match Canada's lead was not decisive, but Potomak ensured that the reigning champions would once again compete in the final when she diverted a shot from Labbe's past the Russian goalkeeper Valeria Tarakanova.

"We knew that the pucks were going to go in eventually and just kept pouring shots," admitted Potomak after the victory.

"We've been down before but it comes down to preparation and we treated it as if it was a 0-0 game the whole way."

United States will be hoping to avenge their last three gold medal match defeats to Canada in the 2015 final ©Matt Zambonin/HHOF/IIHF Images


Potomak having scored five goals and assisted three in the tournament so far could prove to be a major threat to the United States in the final after they overcame the Czech Republic by a comfortable 5-0 margin.

Their victory sets up yet another rematch between the sides, with both teams having met in every final since the inaugural championships in 2008.

The US team ended the first period of their semi-final encounter with a comfortable 2-0 advantage with Rebecca Gilmore claiming her first two goals of the tournament.

The second period then saw the US side rubber stamp their place in the final with Samoskevich claiming a brace, as the US dominated proceedings.

The victory was secured in the final period by Samantha Davis, with US thoughts turning immediately to a rematch with a Canadian side that have beaten them in the last three finals, with the 2014 final ending in a 5-1 triumph for Canada.

However, the US team will head into the final confident of a closer encounter, having beaten the Canadian team in a penalty shootout on the first day of the 2015 tournament, following a 1-1 draw in the group stage.

"We're just ready to go, this is our last chance, and we've had a great time, we've been here sixteen days and we're all set to go," said US captain Jincy Dunne.

"We just want to go out there and play for each other, play for the US and just do it."

Her views were echoed by the head coach of the US team Joel Johnson who stated: "We started the tournament with them, and we talked about team chemistry and sticking to our systems and that's what it'll come down to tomorrow."

Russia and the Czech Republic will now meet in the bronze medal match following their semi final defeats, with both matches taking place on Monday 12.

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