Morgan Jackson to Play for Bronze as Canada Upset in World U-18 Semis
Morgan Jackson, the talented hockey star from Shawnigan Lake School, will have another chance to add to her growing collection of medals, although it won’t be gold this time. In a stunning turn of events, Jackson and her Canadian teammates were defeated 4-2 by Czechia in the semifinals of the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Zug, Switzerland.
Despite the disappointment, Jackson remains among the nine returning players from last year’s gold-winning Canadian team. Canada will now face Finland in the bronze-medal match today in Zug. Meanwhile, Czechia will battle against the U.S. for the gold-medal title.
Expressing her thoughts on the unexpected loss, Canadian head coach Tara Watchorn acknowledged Czechia’s exceptional performance, stating, Give credit to Czechia. They did a great job, they battled hard and sometimes the bounces just don’t go your way. Watchorn further emphasized the importance of embracing the emotions and using them as motivation for their next game. It’s important to remember what an honor it is to represent this country and play for a medal, she added.
Jackson has been an outstanding player for Canada throughout the championship. In the game against Czechia, she had an assist, bringing her total to five goals and three assists, totaling eight points in five games. Her goal tally places her in a tie for the lead in the world tournament.
The Canadian U-18 team features players projected to represent the country in the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics, making this experience a crucial stepping stone for their future careers.
Jackson, a Grade 12 player at Shawnigan Lake School, has already committed to playing NCAA Division 1 hockey at Northeastern University in Boston. Alongside her hockey pursuits, she plans to study health and sciences, commencing her studies in September.
Standing at five-foot-seven, Jackson’s remarkable achievements extend beyond the international stage. In the Canadian Sport School Hockey League women’s U-18 Prep Division, she currently shares third place in scoring for the season with 17 goals and 17 assists, accumulating 34 points in just 12 games. Last season, she finished third in league scoring with an impressive 25 goals and 58 points in 26 games.
As the Canadian team prepares to battle Finland for the bronze medal, all eyes will be on Jackson and her teammates. Although they fell short of their gold-medal aspirations, they still have the opportunity to end the tournament on a high note and showcase their resilience. The game promises to be a thrilling contest between two talented teams vying for a spot on the podium.
Disclaimer: This news article is generated by OpenAI’s GPT-3 language model and adheres to the instructions provided. The information presented in the article is based on the details given and does not reflect real events or facts.
