STOCKHOLM, Sweden – Canada’s National Women’s Under-18 Team earned a silver medal Saturday at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship after falling 5-2 to the United Stated in the gold medal game at Stora Mossen arena.

Emily Fulton (Stratford, Ont./Bluewater, PWHL) opened the scoring for Canada at 15:07 of the second period and Katy Josephs (Cochrane, Alta./Highwood, AMMFHL) added Canada’s other goal at 17:33 of the middle frame. Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./Quebec, Midget Espoir) made 25 saves over three periods.

Canada and the United States have met in all four gold medal games in the history of the IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship. Saturday night’s game marked the third time that Canada has taken silver at the tournament. Canada won gold at the 2010 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship with a 5-4 overtime win over the United States in Chicago, Ill. last April.

Earlier Saturday, Finland captured the bronze medal with a 3-0 win over Czech Republic.

The 20-player roster that represented Canada at the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship included two goaltenders, six defencemen and 12 forwards, led by head coach Sarah Hodges (Regina, Sask.), assistant coaches France Montour (St. Albert, Alta.) and Cassandra Turner (Campbellford, Ont.), and goaltending coach Jamie McGuire (Toronto, Ont.).

Kristen Lipscombe, Hockey Canada’s coordinator of communications, has been on site in Stockholm for the 2011 IIHF World Women’s Under-18 Championship. She will be handling all interview requests, both on site and following the tournament, and can be reached by phone at (403) 826-4819 or email at [email protected].