PLYMOUTH, Mich. – Former University of Vermont captain Amanda Pelkey '15 won a gold medal for the second straight year on Friday night as the U.S. Women's National Team defeated Canada 3-2, in overtime, at the IIHF Women's World Championship from USA Hockey Arena.
 
RELATED LINKS
Gold Medal Game Recap (via USA Hockey)
Women's World Championship Website
CatamounTV Highlights: Pelkey | Valkama
 
In addition, current Catamount sophomore Saana Valkama won bronze with her native country of Finland, while classmate Sammy Kolowrat skated with the Czech Republic.
 
Team USA is now the four-time defending champion and has captured seven of the last eight titles (2005, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017). The U.S. also went undefeated at the tournament for the third consecutive year.
 
"It's such a thrill to watch our players compete at the World Championship and watch two of them win medals," said Vermont head coach Jim Plumer. "Last night's gold medal game was a terrific display of hockey and it's amazing to see Amanda Pelkey play such a prominent role. Likewise, it's great to see Saana Valkama with a goal in the bronze medal game. And Sammy Kolowrat played immense minutes for the Czech Republic. Congrats to all here for representing our program with skill and class."
 
In 2016, Pelkey became the first UVM women's hockey player to win a gold medal at a World Championship and remains the lone native of the Green Mountain State to accomplish the feat. Originally from Montpelier, she lit the lamp Thursday against Germany in an 11-0 decision to advance to the gold medal game. Over Team USA's five contests, she put seven shots on goal and was a plus-three. She represented the U.S. after playing in all 19 games this season for the NWHL's Boston Pride, helping the group reach the Isobel Cup Final.
 
Valkama scored a goal in the second period of the bronze medal game Friday as Finland topped Germany by an 8-0 score. She skated in all six games of the tournament, which included an upset of Canada in the preliminary round. In reaching that result, Finland became the first country other than the United States to win an IIHF game against Canada. At Vermont, Valkama amassed 24 points in 2016-17 on seven goals and a team-high 17 assists.
 
Like Valkama, the 2017 World Championship marked the second consecutive year lacing up for Kolowrat, who had 12 shots on goal over the course of her six games with the Czechs. She also represented her country in February at the IIHF Olympic Qualifier. That weekend, she scored a goal and was named Most Outstanding Defenseman at the conclusion of the tournament. Kolowrat played in 35 games this past season for the Catamounts, contributing a goal and four assists from the blue line.
 
The Windjammer and Upper Deck Pub is the presenting sponsor of the 2016-17 women's hockey season
 
Photo courtesy HHOF-IIHF Images/Minas Panagiotakis