Jane Daley’s Significant Progress from Last Year’s Under-18 Women’s World Championship Results in Gold Medal and MVP Recognition
Jane Daley recorded four assists and a total of eight shots across six matches at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship.
In the 2026 tournament, the 16-year-old from Medfield, Massachusetts had a breakout performance.
Daley topped all players with 12 goals and 17 points, earning the MVP title and the Directorate Award for the best forward of the tournament. Her scoring was instrumental in leading Team USA to an undefeated run and securing the gold medal. Daley also established a new tournament record with her 12 goals, surpassing Haley Skarupa’s previous record of 11 goals set in 2012.
While growth is anticipated at this age, Daley’s progress over the past year has been remarkable. She attributes much of her improvement to her transition from the 16U team to the prep team at Shattuck St. Mary’s in Faribault, Minnesota.
U.S. teammate and Shattuck linemate Kylie Amelkovich noted that Daley’s competitiveness drives her success. Amelkovich stated that Daley has improved because she is consistently challenged by being around older players and has a strong desire to win.
In 19 games played with Shattuck this season, Daley has tallied 15 goals and 18 assists, but Amelkovich emphasized that Daley does not seek to dominate the puck. Her scoring results from her effective play and her ability to position herself correctly for her teammates to pass her the puck.
“I think the difference between this season and last season is Jane is playing with higher-level players, and that drives her to get better and better at practice every day,” Amelkovich said. “The more she works with better players, the more people she has to collaborate with, the greater her success will be.”
The two players brought the chemistry they developed while playing together in prep school to Team USA. Amelkovich assisted on seven of Daley’s 12 goals, while Daley provided an assist on one of Amelkovich’s two goals.
“I just think it’s incredible. I’m thrilled for her. It’s amazing,” Team USA coach Courtney Kennedy remarked regarding Daley’s three consecutive hat tricks during the tournament. “She’s utilizing her speed and her skills. I believe she’s exceptionally talented and has even more potential. I think her name will become more prominent. Jane doesn’t play for individual accolades. She’s a true team player. It just happens to be that the puck is on her stick. She employs her explosive speed and possesses an outstanding shot. I feel sympathy for any goalie who faces it.”
Despite her record-setting achievements at the 2026 tournament, where she scored a hat trick in each of her team’s initial three games, Daley stated that she does not consider herself primarily a scorer. Instead, she acknowledged her linemates for their teamwork and puck-sharing.
Daley, Amelkovich, and Talla Hansen collectively accounted for 45 of Team USA’s 148 points in the tournament. The key to their success, according to Daley, is their ongoing communication both on the ice and on the bench.
The U.S. secured silver in the 2025 tournament, and the memory of that loss has motivated Daley since then. With 10 players from last year’s roster having experienced that disappointment, their objective upon returning to the ice was to achieve gold.
“I think after losing last year, we came back with the desire to win,” Daley said. “We have a bit of a chip on our shoulders. Last year didn’t go as we had hoped.”
This mindset and the sense of camaraderie within Team USA were fostered months prior to the tournament. The U.S. and Canada faced off in a series of three games in August 2025, with the U.S. winning two of them. Those victories energized the Americans and provided them with the confidence they needed for their competition in Nova Scotia.
“Winning is surreal. I’m just glad we won. Regardless of the score, we fought hard and came away with the victory,” Daley stated to TSN immediately after clinching gold. “I haven’t really focused on [the goals] at all. We just won. That’s what matters most to me right now.”
Daley is currently in her junior year at Shattuck and has recently announced her commitment to play at Ohio State starting in the 2027-28 season. With a birthday in March 2009, she is eligible to participate in her third U18 Women’s Worlds in January 2027 and may potentially set more records.
Story from Red Line Editorial, Inc.
