Canada shuts out USA to win gold at women's U18s

Canada blanked the United States 3-0 to win gold at the Under-18 women's world championship on Sunday.

Caileigh Tiller and Dorothy Copetti found the back of the net for Canada before Stryker Zablocki added an empty-netter. Marilou Grenier stopped all 14 shots she faced.

The title is Canada's eighth at the tournament after finishing third last year.

Defender Chloe Primerano ends her U18 career tied with Marie-Philip Poulin as Canada's all-time scoring leader at the event. Primerano accrued 12 goals and 26 points in 12 games over two tourneys.

Zablocki led the U18s with eight goals and 12 points in six contests.

Slovakian phenom Nela Lopusanova was named MVP after tallying five goals and 11 points in five games. She picked up a point on all but three of Slovakia's goals. Lopusanova is the first player to win MVP twice in the tournament's history.

Here is the tournament's media All-Star team:

Fanale won Best Forward and Primerano took home Best Defender, as chosen by the directorate. Czech goaltender Daniela Novakova earned Best Goaltender.

Primerano joins Americans Jincy Roese and Cayla Barnes as the only players to win Best Defender twice.

The Under-18s are the top junior tournament in women's hockey.