For the first time in 18 years, Canadian women have captured back-to-back world hockey championships.

While their run to the title this time around was much less smooth, Team Canada were full marks for their victory on Sunday, holding the Americans to 20 shots on goal in a 2-1 win.

Brianne Jenner, who had a quiet tournament before the gold medal game, scored a pair of power-play goals within a minute of each other on Sunday. At the same time, goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens made 20 saves and showed tremendous poise in the third period, a period where the U.S. outshot Canada 12-6.

That victory avenged a 5-2 loss suffered by Canada to the Americans in the preliminary round as the U.S. were unbeaten heading into Sunday’s final, with an impressive plus-47 goal differential, compared to the Canadians' plus-22.

Sunday was Canada’s third major international title this year after edging the USA 3-2 for the Olympic gold medal in Beijing back in February and capturing the 2021 world title against them in overtime by that same score.

Canada and the United States had 18 players on their Olympic rosters return to play at the Worlds as the two powerhouse teams in women’s hockey have faced each other in all but one final at this tournament since 1990.

American forward Abby Roque scored a fourth power-play goal late in the second period, while netminder Nicole Hensley made 17 saves in a losing effort.

The Canadians have won this tournament now on 12 occasions.

Before last year it seemed as though Canada’s southern neighbours were asserting their dominance in the women’s game as the United States captured five straight world championships along with the 2018 Olympic title before Canada won the gold in 2021 in Calgary.

The 10-country tournament this time out was notably missing Russia, which was banned because of their invasion of Ukraine.

The Czech Republic coached by Calgary native Carla Macleod claimed the bronze medal with a 4-2 victory over Switzerland this weekend in Denmark.

Canada will host this event in 2023 in a city yet to be announced, with the United States hosting the following year.

Both countries will face each other again this winter in a seven-game Rivalry Series, with one game scheduled for November 20 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, while the other dates will be announced in the future.