Knight hits hat-trick as USA stun rivals Canada for world ice hockey crown

• Knight scores three in USA's gold-medal 6-3 win over Canada
• Canada 3-6 United States - as it happened
• Czech Republic edge Switzerland for third place

For all the focus on the United States' young and retooled roster, it was who else but Hilary Knight - the team's most experienced and accomplished star - who played a pivotal role in securing her nation's 10th women's world hockey championships gold medal and first in four years.

Caroline Harvey had a goal and assist, and Abbey Murphy and Cayla Barnes, with an The 33-year-old Knight scored three times, including the go-ahead goal with 3:10 left in regulation, in a 6-3 win over Canada, and on their cross-border rival's home soil in suburban Toronto on Sunday.