The United States and Canada have both secured direct routes to the last four of the Under-18 Women's World Ice Hockey Championship in Ostersund ©IIHF

United States and Canada sealed direct routes through to the last four of the Under-18 Women’s World Ice Hockey Championship in Ostersund, Sweden.

Canada went through Group A unbeaten beating Finland 8-0, Sweden 4-2 and the United States 3-1.

Meanwhile the US ran out comfortable 6-3 winners over hosts Sweden and 8-1 victors against Finland, before their loss to Canada, in the same group.

The US will face Sweden for a second time in the semi-finals, with Sweden running out 6-1 winners over Slovakia in one of two matches billed as quarter-finals.

In the other match billed as a quarter-final, Finland defeated the Czech Republic 3-2, the winners of Group B, thanks to a double from Pauliina Salonen.

Finland will now face Canada in the other semi-final, with both of the last-four encounters scheduled for tomorrow (Saturday).

Also scheduled tomorrow is the second meeting in a best of three relegation round between Switzerland and Japan.

Switzerland lead that series 1-0 after triumphing in yesterday’s opening encounter 5-0.

Meanwhile in a placement round game to decide fifth and sixth, Czech Republic will face Slovakia tomorrow, in a contest between the two defeated quarter-finalists.

Canada and the US contested last year’s final in Madison, with Canada edging out their opponents, who were playing on home turf 3-2.