MADISON — Tessa Janecke, a 2022 Orangeville graduate and Monroe Youth Hockey Association’s first international product, scored three goals in Team USA’s first four games of the 2022 Ice Hockey U18 Women’s World Championship, held in Madison.

Teammate Laila Edwards is tied for the lead of all international scorers with four goals in four games. Czechia’s Tereza Pistekova also has four goals, but in five games. Teammate Tereza Plosova leads all players with 10 points (3G, 7A). 

Janecke also has three assists and six total points in the tournament, which is tied for seventh.

Team USA won all three of its group games, defeating Canada, Finland and Sweden. The Americans outscored their opponents 18-1 in those three games. In the final game against rival Canada, Team USA won 7-0 — the largest margin of victory in the history of the two countries. 

Joining Janecke and Edwards (Ohio) atop Team USA’s scoring is Kirsten Simms (Michigan), who has four assists. Simms and Edwards will play for the Wisconsin Badgers this winter, while Janecke will suit up for Penn State. The trio has dominated as the top line for the Americans. In a 5-0 win over Finland in group play, the three scored a combined eight points. Janecke had four points herself in that contest.

Janecke also leads the tournament in faceoffs won at 80.7% (21-5).

After receiving a first-round bye in the playoff bracket, the Americans defeated Sweden for a second time — this time in a tighter contest — 3-2 to reach the gold medal game against Canada. Team USA out-shot Sweden 53-24.

In the most recent tournament held in Bratislava in 2020, the U.S. beat Canada 2-1 in overtime. 

The championship game was scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. June 13 at LaBahn Ice Arena in Madison following the third-place game between Finland and Sweden. Results were unavailable by press time.

Czechia, Slovakia, Germany and Switzerland also participated in the tournament.