When Morgan Jackson of Shawnigan Lake School returned to campus with a gold medal from the 2023 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Hockey Championship in Ostersund, Sweden, the entire student body came out to welcome her home.

The Courtenay native began her quest for the two-peat by scoring twice on Saturday as Canada opened the 2024 world U-18 championship in Zug, Switzerland, with an 11-0 victory over Germany. Known for her strong two-way play, it wasn’t surprising that one of Jackson’s goals came shorthanded.

Canada outshot Germany 68-4, leaving the coaching staff looking more inward than at the opponent.

“Even though we had the puck a lot, when we didn’t have control, we stuck to our habits and were always looking to get back on offence,” Canada head coach Tara Watchorn said in a statement. “I like that we got better and better every period.”

Jackson is among nine returning players from last year’s championship team.

Canada meets Czechia today in its second game. All Canada games, and all games in the medal round, are broadcast by TSN through to the final on Jan. 14.

Jackson is a Grade 12 Shawnigan Lake School player who will play NCAA Div. 1 at Northeastern University in ­Boston while studying health and sciences beginning in September.

The five-foot-seven forward graduated from the Comox Valley Minor Hockey Association and Vancouver Island Seals of the B.C. Elite Hockey League and is tied for third in scoring this season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League women’s U-18 Prep Division with 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 12 games. ­

Morgan recorded 25 goals and 58 points in 26 games for Shawnigan Lake School last season to finish third in league scoring.

The Canada U-18 team features the players projected to represent the nation in the 2030 and 2034 Winter Olympic Games.

“I can’t live without this game and the Olympics are my ultimate dream,” Jackson told the Times Colonist after winning 2023 world gold.