A recap of the action from January 4, 2025, day one of the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in Vantaa, Finland.
USA 6, Japan 0
The most important takeaway from this game was a possible injury to one of Japan's top forwards, Azumi Numabe. She was helped off the ice towards the end of the warm up period with an apparent upper body injury. Coach Yujiro Kasahara said he did not have an update on her status or what the injury was following the game. She was third in the D1A tournament in points last year, helping to lead Japan to promotion, and she'd be a massive loss for the team going forward.
It wasn't the cleanest or most dominant game for the Americans, but it was plenty serviceable for an opening round win. USA outshot Japan 67-4 and held their opponent shotless in the final 20 minutes.
Japan showed marked improvement from the last time they played at the top level, particularly in speed, transition and puck handling, but there was obviously still a massive gap between them and the Americans. Give credit to Team USA for playing a game with few penalties. The Japanese team is much smaller in stature and the US did a great job of being physical, but with restraint.
Haley Box, Christina Scalese, Maggie Averill, Bella Fanale, Emi Biotti and Mary Derrenbacher each scored in the win.
The Americans will face Sweden on Sunday at 10 AM local time, 3 AM eastern time. Japan will face Finland on Sunday at 1:30 PM local time, 6:30 AM eastern time.
What We Learned:
- US Depth – Thirteen different Americans showed up on the scoresheet and no one earned a second point until the fourth goal. It's not that there isn't a standout scorer or two, it's that this is a lineup full of scoring talent. Mary Derrenbacher and Haley Box led the team with a goal and two assists each.
- Still a gap – While I think Numabe playing would have given Japan more offense and probably made them a bit more of a threat, this was USA's game to lose and even when they played sloppy, it was never a doubt they'd find their rhythm and the back of the net. I'm hopeful for a time where the promotion/relegation spot isn't two teams switching spots year after year, but at this point it's clear how much of a talent gap there is between D1A and the top tier. Japan dominated last year's D1A tournament. I'm not writing them off after one game (especially because unless something majorly changed between last year and this one, Switzerland is certainly vulnerable) but Japan went from allowing four goals in the whole 2024 D1A tournament to giving up six in their first game of this one.
- Pick it up – In their pretournament win over Czechia, it took the Czechs scoring the first goal to wake the Americans up and they took awhile to amp up in this game, as well. They're not going to be able to get away with that in their next game against Sweden, so hopefully coach Liz Keady Norton's thought that this was a big learning experience for her team proves true.
Standout Performances:
- USA F Evelyn Doyle – Something of a newcomer to USA Hockey having only played in the series this summer, she made herself a known presence in this game, putting six shots on goal and doing well at the faceoff dot. It was a rebound from her shot that led to the first US goal. In a sea of maybe more well-known prospects, she certainly has my attention now.
- Japan D Reina Kakuta – The top line defender was an ironwoman, logging 24:26 of ice time - more than anyone on either team. The Japanese zone was under near constant attack and she was fully poised the whole time. She wasn't afraid to get in front of the puck, did a good job of fighting for space in front of the net as the US tried to set up camp and generally was a stalwart in the face of 67 shots on goal.
Quotable:
"It was a top level team. We are happy for our goalkeepers because they kept us in the game, but we wanted more opportunities to attack but we couldn't get them." - Japan coach Yujiro Kasahara
"I think we've gotten faster, but this level is more physical and we need to work on that, especially because we are so much smaller." - Kasahara
"Excited to get the first win under us and grow through each period. I'd like to see less turnovers. Our game should be earning the first touch, moving the puck quickly and five people in the offense. I think we got to that towards the third but there were plenty of plays that could be cleaned up and be more effective more quickly. Today was a great learning moment for that." - USA coach Liz Keady Norton
"I think it's a really good reflection of the depth of our team and what we have up front and on the defensive end, as well. I would expect that throughout the tournament." - Norton, on there being 13 different players tallying a point.
"I think when you see a kid like Mary (Derrenbacher) do as well as she did last year. There were so many of them that stepped up in really big moments that it gives you hope and a little bit more confidence when you make some of those decisions." - Norton, on selecting a roster that is full of younger players.
"I think we were just all really excited to get the win. I think we improved each period. We just want to stick to our game plan, even though they don't have a lot of shots." - USA captain Bella Fanale
"Last year I went into it with the mindset that yes, I was young, but I can just play my game like I'd play any other game. They know how to play their game. Honestly, they've got it." - USA F Mary Derrenbacher
"It's crazy because I was once the youngest girl. I was the one who was looking up to people and now people are coming to me for that. It was a full circle moment. It's great to be in the leadership group. I don't take that for granted." - Fanale
"Everyone contributes. It takes a whole team. We have depth throughout our lines and we just have to use that in all our games." - Derrenbacher
Sweden 2, Finland 1 (OT)
Despite a slow start from the Finns, Sweden did not capitalize - thanks in large part to Finland goalie Kerttu Kuja-Halkola - until midway through the second. Sweden outshot Finland 33-16, but a power play goal from Senja Siivonen early in the third tied the game 1-1 and eventually forced overtime.
Unsurprisingly, it was Edit Danielsson who put Sweden on the board first. She picked up a turnover in the neutral zone and headed straight at Kuja-Halkola, wristing it under the goalie's leg to make it 1-0.
Finland coach Mira Kuisma said it was about her team needing confidence to go out and play the way they know how from the moment the puck drops.
Sweden did well to withstand Finland's push back in the third period and ultimately get the winner in overtime. Ebba Westerlind said she saw a lot of open ice in front of her when she got the puck. Her simple shoulder dip gave her the space she needed to score five-hole - something she said she noticed Kuja-Halkola was susceptible to while watching film.
There was a loud, sold out crowd in the arena to watch these two rivals faceoff on the first day of the tournament. It was a physical game, with ten total penalties keeping the game from ever really finding a flow.
Finland struggled early on, not tallying their first shot on goal until there was 3:49 left in the first and they were on the power play. Sweden used their size and physicality to hold the puck and keep the Finns pinned in and on their heels.
This was Sweden's first win in the last three games against their neighbors and it came at an opportune time. They will face the Americans in the early game on Sunday and the confidence boost they received from this game will be huge in how they approach playing them.
What We Learned:
- Speedy Swede – I'm sorry Lovisa Engström, I was unfamiliar with your game. The 17-year-old was on last year's team, but played limited minutes and I think it's fair to say wasn't quite ready. Now she's a top line forward that's in a position to really show off. Finland clearly knew what to expect from her and kept a defensive cushion to stop themselves from getting flat out beat. I'm excited to see what she can do as this tournament progresses. It feels like she went from speedy but very green to fast with the skills and vision to match.
- Slow starts – The theme of the day was slow starts. Some teams were able to get past them and others put themselves in a hole because they weren't prepared. It's always important to keep in mind that these are teenagers, but their staff put a lot of time and effort into getting them pre-tournament games and trying to help them be ready. For Finland, it might have been the build up or playing at home or even having defeated Sweden twice in the weeks leading up to the tournament, but they absolutely were not at their best until the third period in this game.
Standout Performances:
- Sweden F Edit Danielsson – She was the goal scorer and led the team with eight shots, but she also was just an impressive presence every time she was on the ice. Just before the game-winner in overtime, Finland looked like they'd have a breakaway and it was Danielsson who chased it down, bodied the Finnish player off the puck and ended the threat. She's a leader and play like that bodes well for this team.
- Finland D Elli Pohjanaho – It turns out Sweden F Lovisa Engstrom is really fast and Pohjanaho was tasked with making sure Finland did not get burned. She managed to find a really good balance of keeping a cushion and getting involved with the play that speaks to her vision on the ice and how she can read developing plays. On Finland's goal, Pohjanaho was slow to join her team in the offensive zone, despite being on the power play. But as soon as she was at the point, she had the puck on her stick and she was unleashing a wicked shot, which was deflected into the net to tie the game.
Quotable:
"The first period was not good for us, but then it got better and better every period. The second was ok, but the third was the best." - Finland coach Mira Kuisma
"We just have to decide that we know how to play. We have to believe and encourage each other. It's all mental." - Kuisma
"At first I think I wasn't in front of the goalie and then I just tried to get the top of the puck. Then I did and it went in the goal. Sweden is so physical and I used my size to get space in that area." - Finland F Senja Siivonen on scoring the game-tying goal
"It was a rough game. I think we had a lot of good energy. We were fighting for more than 60 minutes. We have to be careful with the penalties. It was unnecessary and it gave them more energy. But we were ready from the start." - Sweden F Edit Danielsson
"We just kind of cheered each other up and we knew the whole time what we're able to do. The start was a bit tough, but we knew in every moment what we're capable of." - Finland G Kerttu Kuja-Halkola
We have a rule on our team that by 90 minutes after the game, we have to move forward whether we win or lose. You have to move forward because this is a long tournament." - Kuja-Halkola
"It was super cool. I probably have never played in front of a crowd this big at home. It was awesome. I just want to say thank you to everybody who came to support us. It meant a lot to us." Kuja-Halkola
"You need to do the work every shift. and the good behaviors all the time when you're out there. It's a very small difference. You can't practice it. They have to learn it." - Sweden coach Andreas Karlsson, on what his team can take away from this game to use as the tournament progresses
"I saw it was like no defender. So I just skated to the goal as fast I could. I tried to go around the defender and I managed to do that and I skated straight to the goal." Sweden F Ebba Westerlind on what she saw leading up to the game-winning goal
"I've seen a lot of clips of her letting pucks in like that, so that's what I tried to do." - Westerlind on dipping her shoulder and the shot she took to win the game
Czechia 2, Switzerland 1 (OT)
I have a fondness for both these teams, but I have to admit I was rooting for Switzerland and was so sad for them that they weren't able to pull out the win. This was another penalty-filled game and it was scoreless through the first two periods.
I remember thinking it was interesting that after being the clear standout of this team in Zug, defender Sonja Inkamp didn't feel very visible early in this game. That changed early in the third, just after a power play expired when Inkamp found a lane from the top of the zone to make it a 1-0 game.
Czechia equalized on the power play with just 2:08 on the clock, having also pulled their goalie to make it a 6-on-4 situation. Their balanced break lead to a rush where Viktorie Jílková got a feed from Linda Vocetková to tie the game 1-1.
In overtime, Julie Jebousková buried the puck to give Czechia the come-from-behind 2-1 win.
What We Learned:
- So good Swiss – This was the best I've seen the U18 Swiss team play in the four years I've been attending the tournament. Both senior and U18 coaches have lamented the lack of growth and the shallowness of the talent pool in their home country as they've seen their teams struggle at both levels of the IIHF World Championships but none of that felt like a factor here. The Swiss were disciplined and quick. Coach Melanie Haeflinger said the team is learning to play in and execute a system and it's paying off. They had just 100 shots on goal the entire 2024 tournament, but put 24 on net on Saturday alone.
- Fast breaks – Haeflinger said there was something in their scouting the showed Czechia was vulnerable to breakaways and boy did the Swiss take advantage. Czechia can thank Daniela Nováková in net for keeping Switzerland off the board on probably a good dozen breakaways over the course of the game. Truly it was boggling how often a Swiss player was able to turn the play the other direction and get in on net. If the growth they showed between the last two tournaments is any indication of what they're capable of, it won't be long before they start converting even a handful of those and putting the game out of reach. It was truly a fascinating part of this game and it definitely wasn't just one player taking off down the ice. Kudos to the Swiss staff for spotting the vulnerability and prepping their players. I can't tell you how big a deal it is to see this team be able to read those plays, pick off the puck and skate in on net.
- New look Czechia – After a few years with a highly skilled and prolific top offensive line, Julie Jebousková said its more that the team sees an opportunity to step up and make a bigger impact, instead of individual players. Most of this team has known and played together for years and that familiarity and the team ethic mean they're not looking to "replace" anything. They're trying to build on the standard that was set with last year's silver medal.
Standout Performances:
- Switzerland F Naemi Herzig – It was clear to see why Herzig was selected team captain as she put her body on the line again and again, getting in front of shots, aggressively backchecked and generally did everything she could to help her team. She was so impressive and it was exactly the kind of thing you'd want from your team leadership. She was outstanding.
- Czechia G Daniela Nováková – She was calm and collected, made huge saves when her team needed and provided the base for them to build from. The Czechs have had some great goalies over the past few years and it's clear Nováková is extending that legacy.
Quotable:
"We tied the game so I was pretty happy with that. And in overtime, the puck could have ended up with another teammate, but it fell to me and I just threw it on net and boom. I was pretty happy about that. We were hyped up. Our whole team is like family and we were just happy to win. It was a bit of a struggle." - Czechia F Julie Jebousková
"Nobody cares about who steps up. We're going to step up as a team. We said we need to lock in. We need to trust the coaches." - Jebousková on what the team talked about heading into the third period
"It's an important to win. For two periods we were not good. Our first game, always, every event, is always like that. It's very hard. I hope this important win will help us and we'll get better and better." - Czechia coach Dušan Andrašovský
"Switzerland played a great game - much better than we've seen from them before. Our goalie saved us." - Andrašovský
"I hope it's not the last game we play like this. We've developed." - Switzerland coach Melanie Häflinger
"They believe. They have more self-confidence. They are building from year to year to year. It's very important." - Häflinger on how this team has developed
"I feel like we need to shoot more. We always pass and pass and pass and wait. Every time I get the puck and I don't see a perfect pass, I shoot. It went in that time." - Switzerland D Sonja Inkamp on her goal
"We really wanted to win, but they won the silver medal last year, so it's fair enough for us to have a great game. It was awesome." - Inkamp on finding positives in the loss
Canada 6, Slovakia 2
Canada pulled away in the third period and Slovakia has work to do in terms of being able to close out a full game, but for more than two periods, the Slovaks had Canada off balance, forced to the edges and in their own heads. It took them most of the game to be able to adjust and remember who they are and what they're capable of.
Slovakia made the best of their opportunities, scoring twice on seven shots on net. They showed an improved ability to play the length of the ice, pressuring on the forecheck, keeping pace on the backcheck and not getting pulled into Canada's game in the defensive zone.
Canada scored first when Sara Manness found a loose puck that a sprawling Mariana Sumegová didn't manage to cover. From below the goal line she put the puck back in the crease, behind Sumegová and McDonald tapped it in. Slovakia responded on the power play as Ema Tóthová found space in the slot to let loose a wrister to beat Marilou Grenier.
It was Manness again doing the playmaking on Canada's second goal as she drew Sumegová to her before dishing the puck to Maxien Cimoroni on the back post. But Slovakia had the answer one more time as a strong forecheck paid off when Nikola Komloš intercepted a pass and hit Nela Lopušanová, who did not miss from in close to make it 2-2.
Danica Maynard's goal early in the third seemed to be the catalyst Canada needed. She came off the bench with pace, picked up a puck in the neutral zone and drove the net, scoring easily. From there, Chloe Primerano scored on a nice pass from Lexie Bertelsen and then Stryker Zablocki took a page out of Maynard's book and scored a similar quick and decisive goal. Those three goals in less than four minutes took all the air out of Slovakia and put the game out of reach.
What We Learned:
- No assumptions – What stood out to me in the final two games of the day is how much the Swiss and Slovaks defied expectations. Most elite players and coaches will say they don't pay attention to what everyone else says, but that's obviously much easier said than done. I thought it was telling of how well coached both of these teams are that they made huge strides in just a year. Two years ago, Slovakia felt like the Lopušanová show with her teammates basically serving to get her the puck as often as possible.
- KISS – It was painful to watch Canada at times in this game as they uselessly shuffled the puck around and then put soft shots from distance right in the goalies pads. They were over thinking everything and it doesn't seem an accident that their third period goals were about taking the puck, driving the net and unleashing a hard, smart shot. Sometimes at this tournament it's really easy to forget how young the players are, but for a lot of this game, it was painfully obvious these were teenagers. I have no doubt Canada will learn from this and the players will continue to improve throughout the tournament. One of the reasons I'm so in awe of these players and love covering this tournament is that I remember what I was like at that age and thus I find what these women do so massively impressive.
- No gap is the same – As much as Japan vs. USA showed the massive gap in D1A and the top tier, both Switzerland and Slovakia showed how much can change in a year and also, I think, the benefit of getting to play against the other top teams regularly. The jump is hard for every team (see: Germany) but it's even more insurmountable for Japan when they are so far away from everyone else.
Standout Performances:
- Slovakia G Mariana Sumegová – She played just about 15 minutes in last year's tournament, letting in two goals. She then moved to Canadian prep school and won the starting role, playing an absolutely stellar game here that just does not come across in the box score. She was unintimidated, kept things even keel and really allowed her team to play the game they did.
- Canada F Danica Maynard – Her goal was the pivotal moment in this game. As Canada was getting more and more flustered and in their own heads, putting soft shots on net and generally forgetting how good they can be, she came off the bench, picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, drove the net and scored. It was quick, it was decisive and it was necessary for Canada to be able to pull out the win. In a mess of too many passes, too few high probability shots and a lot of useless moving around of the puck, Maynard drove the net and simply beat the goalie. It seemed to shake something loose for her teammates, who were energized and I think also reminded of their strength, speed and vision.
Quotable:
"It obviously wasn't our best game, but I'm happy we came out with the win. We'll continue to build on that going into the rest of the tournament. We'll take what we did in the third period and bringing that into the next game." - Canada D Chloe Primerano
"That was a big goal for our team. It swung the momentum in our favor." - Primerano on Maynard's third period goal
"We wanted to surprise everyone. I think we did it and we did it really well. I think we can build on it." - Slovakia F Nela Lopušanová
"I think she's awesome. She's incredible. I think she had a really good game. She was the best player on the ice." - Lopušanová on Sumegová
"I'm happy with how we played but I think we can play better. We wanted to play this well and I'm really grateful for the team. We did a really good job, even if we lost. I think this game will push us to do a better job." - Lopušanová
"You can never prepare for the first game of the tournament. It was a great exhibition game but it's a little different when you start the World Championships." - Canada coach Vicky Sunohara
"We had to learn and keep it simple and not give them so many opportunities. The nerves were there. At times we were trying to do a little bit too much. There were some positives that we build off and we get some momentum. For the first game, it was great to face some adversity, as well. I think it will put us in a great spot for tomorrow." - Sunohara
"We'll have a lot of shifts, a lot of video to go over to help us grow and get a little bit better for tomorrow." - Sunohara
"We battled all the way through. I'm really proud of the team. We knew that Canada is a strong team. We were happy with two periods. We knew that the third period is going to be pretty tough. After that third goal, it all went downhill." - Slovakia coach Michal Kobezda
"In our pre-game meeting we were talking about the World Juniors game between Latvia and Canada as an example for the girls. We said if Latvia can do that, we could do the same. I'm really happy about the way we played and it's going to give us more confidence in the next games." - Kobezda
"Play hard all the time. If we keep playing this way, we're going to get some wins for sure. We just have to keep battling and then the results will come." - Kobezda
(Photo: Nicole Haase)
