Chloe Primerano's début with a Canadian national hockey team was memorable in more ways than one.
The Burnaby Winter Club graduate was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women's World Championships, compiling a tournament-high 16 points in six games in Zug, Switzerland.
That included eight goals and eight assists. The total is also a record for most points by a defender in the competition, according to the IIHF.
Primerano, a prospect of the WHL's Vancouver Giants and current RINK Hockey Academy player, was also named the U18 women's worlds top defender and the media all-star team.
The one mission that wasn't accomplished: completing Canada's gold-medal three-peat.
The red and white landed on the podium with a bronze medal after losing 4-2 to Czechia in its semifinal match on Saturday, Jan. 13. The United States ultimately took home the trophy in the final on Sunday, Jan. 14.
Primerano recorded a game-high three points, including two goals, leading Canada to an 8-1 victory over Finland in the third-place match.
The 17-year-old from North Vancouver said the semis loss was a big lesson in never taking any game for granted.
"You have to come out flying every game. Every team is good in this tournament," she said in an interview with IIHF.
"Next year, we've got to come out and work as hard as we can and try to not let what happened this year happen again."
"I think all of her teammates, staff and people involved in this program can say we're not surprised," said Canadian coach Tara Watchorn of Primerano's skills.
"Chloe is such a hard worker. This was her coming-out stage and she did really well. But I think the coolest part is just the teammate she was all the way through the tournament. She was such a pleasure to work with."
Primerano appeared in 30 games with Burnaby Winter Club's U15 prep squad during the 2021-22 season, notching two goals and 17 assists for 19 points, and added two more helpers in three CSSHL playoff matches.
She also tallied eight points in six games a year earlier with BWC's U15 varsity squad.
