Generational defender Chloe Primerano to lead Canada's quest for gold at U18 hockey worlds

It's been an eventful few months for Chloe Primerano.

After enrolling a year early at the University of Minnesota, the defender has scored 11 points in her first 16 college games.

Then, in November, Primerano made her Canadian senior team debut in the Rivalry Series against the United States. With the game tied in the fifth round of a shootout in Utah, head coach Troy Ryan turned to the 17-year-old, who beat one of the PWHL's top goaltenders to win the game.

Now, Primerano — who celebrated her 18th birthday on Thursday — will captain the Canadian under-18 team on its quest for gold in Finland. Canada's tournament in Vantaa begins on Saturday with the team taking on Slovakia, led by skilled forward Nela Lopušanová, at 1:30 p.m. ET.

There's no doubt North Vancouver's Primerano is a special player on the ice, from her skating to her shot. She could be a star in the PWHL sooner rather than later. The league doesn't have a minimum draft age.

Primerano led last year's under-18 tournament in points (16 in six games), setting a new single-tournament record for points by a defender and earning MVP honours. It wouldn't be surprising to see her challenge American Amanda Kessel's 19-point single-tournament record for all skaters.

Nor will it be surprising to see Primerano carve out a permanent job on the blue line of Canada's senior team ahead of the 2026 Olympics. The last player to suit up for the senior team and under-18 team in the same season was Marie-Philip Poulin in 2008-09.

WATCH | Primerano on Hockey Canada experience, Olympic dream:

"I try not to think about it too much," Primerano told CBC Sports' Anastasia Bucsis in November. "There's still lots of time to go. Obviously it's in the back of my mind and a goal I have."

Shootout game-winners aside, it's how Primerano has developed off the ice over the last year that stands out most to Vicky Sunohara, the Olympic gold medallist who serves as head coach of Canada's under-18 squad.

"What is most exciting for me is how Chloe has grown as a leader," Sunohara said in an interview with CBC Sports from Finland.

"She has been so great with our group. You can see that she's still a little shy when she's speaking in front of our group. But she always has her hand up to answer questions. She always has some supportive words for our group."

WATCH l Primerano scores shootout winner as Canada evens Rivalry Series:

Last year's team looked dominant before a surprising loss at the hands of the Czech Republic in the semifinals. Canada defeated Finland 8-1 for bronze.

Five players, including Primerano, return from that roster. It's hard to imagine redemption hasn't been on their minds.

"I'd lie if I say we haven't thought about last year," said Sunohara, who was an assistant coach on that team. "But we're really, really focusing on the present."

Canada's under-18 women's hockey team beat Finland 8-1 for bronze in January 2024. (Andrea Leigh Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Returning veterans

The other returnees include goaltender Marilou Grenier and forwards Stryker Zablocki, Sara Manness and Maxine Cimoroni.

Quebec's Grenier didn't start a single game in last year's tournament. But the positivity she brought to the team, including the support for the two goalies ahead of her on the depth chart, was valuable, her coach said.

Grenier goes into this tournament with a chance to seize the starting job.

"She was just a bright light for our team," Sunohara said. "She continues to be that goalie and that player that will do whatever it takes."

Prince Albert, Sask.'s Zablocki looks poised for a big tournament after logging more than a point per game in last year's world championship. Zablocki, who is committed to play at Northeastern University, registered two goals and an assist in a 7-0 win over Finland in a pre-tournament game on Wednesday.

Zablocki is one of five returning players from last year's under-18 team. (Andrea Leigh Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

Cimoroni, meanwhile, has also stepped up as a leader and grown more confident on the ice over a short period of time, Sunohara said. She will be one of the team's assistant captains.

She captained Ontario Red to an under-18 national championship in November, and was named MVP of the tournament.

"Just a player that's matured and become an unbelievable leader, and someone that her teammates look up to," said Joe Butkevich, head coach of the Ontario Red team.

Built-in chemistry

Manness returns for a second tournament and will also be an assistant captain on this squad.

This time around, Manness will have her twin sister, Kate, playing for her country with her. The sisters from La Salle, Man., won a provincial title last season with the Burlington Barracudas in under-22 elite league play with Sara up front and Kate on the blue line.

Six members of the top ranked-Etobicoke Dolphins will play together at the tournament, all wearing the Canadian jersey for the first time.

Manness returns from the under-18 team that brought home bronze last year. She'll be joined this time by her twin sister, Kate, who is a defender. (Andrea Leigh Cardin/HHOF-IIHF Images)

If Sunohara and her staff are looking for quick chemistry in a short tournament, they could turn to the Dolphins' line of Sofia Ismael, Lexie Bertelsen and Rachel Piggott, who also played together for Canada in a summer series against the United States.

"They've wreaked havoc so far in our league," said Butkevich, who coaches the Dolphins, in addition to his role with Ontario Red.

Also coming from the Dolphins is Ava Wood, who moved from New Brunswick to play elite hockey in Ontario. The Colgate University commit has 29 points in 22 games so far.

"When you think east coast, you think of Ava Wood. [She's] just an authentic hard-working person that comes to the rink every day with a smile, leaves with a smile, and makes those around her better just from being in her presence," Butkevich said. "She leaves it on the ice all the time."

Setting the pace

Canada will compete in Group B along with Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The United States, Japan, Finland and Sweden round out the tournament in Group A.

The gold-medal game is set for 12 p.m. ET on Jan. 12.

Sunohara, who was named to Canada's Sports Hall of Fame last year, knows a thing or two about playing in high-pressure situations while wearing the Maple Leaf.

She played in the first women's world championship in 1990, winning gold. She also played in the first Olympic tournament featuring women's hockey in 1998, and left that tournament with a silver medal.

Sunohara, who also coaches the University of Toronto's women's team, is one of Canada's most decorated hockey players. (Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press)

When she was playing, Sunohara was told to focus on Canadians cheering for the team, rather than looking at it as pressure.

She's had conversations with her team's leadership group about what makes them most nervous and excited. They've talked about what kind of team they'd like to be. Relentless and unified were two words that came to mind.

They're qualities that will be necessary if Canada wants to strike gold this time around.

"We want to play fast and make other teams adapt to our game," Sunohara said.