Morgan Jackson’s burgeoning trophy case can still add another medal, but it won’t be gold. The Shawnigan Lake School star and her Canadian teammates were stunned 4-2 by Czechia on Saturday in the semifinals of the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Zug, Switzerland.
Jackson, from Courtenay, is among the nine returning players from last year’s gold-medallist Canadian team. sa国际传媒 will play Finland for the bronze medal today in Zug (6 a.m. PT on TSN). The Czechs will play the U.S. in the gold-medal game.
“Give credit to Czechia. They did a great job, they battled hard and sometimes the bounces just don’t go your way,” Canadian head coach Tara Watchorn said in a statement.
“We’re upset because we care. We’ve built a great culture, and relationships that we value and really care about. I think we need to feel that and realize it’s OK to feel that. We need to experience this feeling and reset and be ready for [today]. It’s important to remember what an honour it is to represent this country and play for a medal.”
Jackson, who has been outstanding for sa国际传媒, had an assist against Czechia and is seventh in tournament scoring with five goals and three assists for eight points in five games. The Islander is tied for the world tournament goals lead with her five.
The sa国际传媒 U-18 team features the players projected to represent the country in the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympics.
Jackson is a Grade 12 Shawnigan Lake School player committed to NCAA Division 1 hockey at Northeastern University in Boston, where she will study health and sciences, beginning in September.
The five-foot-seven forward graduated from the Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association and Vancouver Island Seals of the sa国际传媒 Elite Hockey League and is tied for third in scoring this season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League women’s U-18 Prep Division with 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 12 games for Shawnigan Lake School. She was third in league scoring last season with 25 goals and 58 points in 26 games.
