CALGARY, Alberta (AFP) – Sarah Filler played out a draw in the middle of the third inning as Canada beat Finland 5-3 on Friday to open the Women’s Hockey World Championships.

The tournament began with the Beijing Olympics in less than six months. The last World Championships was held in Finland in 2019 and the United States won its fifth consecutive title. The pandemic forced the cancellation of the event, which was due to take place in Nova Scotia in 2020 and then postponed earlier this year.

Alyssa Holopainen scored for Finland 25 seconds after Weiler scored. Villiers bounced back after goalkeeper Annie Kesala blocked Natalie Spooner’s bypass attempt.

In the second Group A game, the nine-time champions of the United States faced Switzerland in the evening.

Ten-time champions Canada fell two goals behind when Jimmy Rattray and Mary Philip Pauline scored in the second half of 20 seconds. Nellie Latin and Minamare Tumenon initially scored 3:40 for Finland, while Tumenon met two Canadians in the penalty area.

Irene Ambrose gave Canada a 3-2 lead at the start of the third half, while Brian Jenner scored a free kick in the last minute.

Anne-René Despens made eight saves for Canada. Kisala took 39 adoptions.

Earlier, captain Alina Mills had scored three goals and one assist in the Czech Republic’s 6–1 win over Denmark in Group B.

Vendola Pribilova, Dominika Laskova and Kristina Batkova also scored for the Czech Republic, and Klara Beslarova made eight saves.

Josephine Pearson scored for Denmark. The Danes are back in the First Division for the first time since 1992.