2026 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship: Day 1, part I

A recap of the the first two games' action from January 10, 2025, day one of the IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in Sydney and Membertou, Nova Scotia.

USA 13 , Slovakia 0

Maddy Kimbrel scored 17 seconds into the game and pretty much set the tone for Team USA in their tournament-opening game. Captain Maggie Averill, a defender, and Jane Daley each tallied a hat trick and had an assist for the Americans. Christina Scalese had just two goals and two assists all tournament in 2025 and has met those numbers in the first game here in 2026.

It was a powerful opening game for Team USA and a statement of purpose from last year's silver medalists. The team won two of three games over Canada this summer with a roster very similar to this one. They know what they're capable of an that has allowed them to come into this tournament confident and feeling like they belong. Despite it being the first international tournament for more than half the roster, there didn't seem to be too many nerves.

Slovakia only managed five shots, but Morgan Stickney did stop a penalty shot from Nela Lopušanová en route to her fourth career shutout at this tournament, which is a new record. It was also her 6th victory in net, which is a US record for this tournament.

It can be difficult for all members of the team to stay focused and disciplined in a blowout, but that's especially true for a goaltender. USA was impressive in the ways they continued to play their game and not get sloppy. There's always room for improvement and learning to be done, but for an opening foray, it was as solid a performance as they've put together to open a tournament as any they've had in recent memory.

Next up: The Americans will face Czechia on Sunday at 6 PM local time, 5 PM eastern time. Slovakia will face Finland on Sunday at 1:30 PM local time, 2:30 PM eastern time.

What We Learned:

• Puck possession – The US absolutely dominated in puck possession from start to finish. It exhausted Slovakia and kept them from ever getting momentum on offense. If they won the puck and cleared the zone, they had to dump for a line change. Especially in a game early in the tournament you can see the best teams not connecting on passes and taking a little time to set their chemistry, but that wasn't the case for the Americans.
• Nela needs help – Slovakia looked more primed to compete in 2025, but Ema Tóthová and Gabriela Lačná aged out and I didn't see anyone on the ice on Saturday stand out as someone who can see the game and move the puck like Nela Lopušanová. That's a tough ask and I'd have given credit to even someone in the vicinity, but Slovakia struggled with putting together every part of the offensive game. Even Nela was totally neutralized - it's difficult to be impressive with the puck if you never have it. They couldn't hold possession, they couldn't move through traffic and any time they did win the puck, they had to dump it in and head for a line change.
• A year older – It doesn't seem like a coincidence that the outstanding performers, stat-wise, for the USA were returning players from previous tournaments. At the 2025 tournament, Christina Scalese had 2 goals and 2 assists - she equaled that total today. Averill had one assist - she ended the first game with three goals and an assist. Jane Daley had four assists in 2025 - she also ended today with three goals and an assist. They've naturally grown as players, but they also just have the advantage of being comfortable, not being wide-eyed and for this team, having lost last year's gold medal game. This tournament is no longer their first big international outing. Now they can just focus on end goals and not having that losing feeling agian.

Standout Performances:

• Slovakia G Mariana Sumegova – She came in cold to start the second and I need everyone to look past the scoreline and notice that this woman made 44 saves on 52 shots in just 40 minutes of game play. She never looked rattled, she wasn't yelling at her teammates. And after the game she talked about forgetting it all and starting again tomorrow (when she expects to start in net) like it was no big deal so shrug off eight goals.
• USA F Kylie Amelkovich – She had had six assists, setting a new IIHF single-game record for most assists in the tournament and tying the single-game point record at the tournament. She was all over the ice with great vision, hitting players in stride and just doing the dirty work to keep possession and find targets.

Quotable:

"Losing last year, we're coming back and we want to win. I think everybody in the room is going to do whatever it takes, and we're pretty psyched up. We got the first game out of the way, but we have more games to go." - USA F Jane Daley

"We came out with the right attitude and intention and it definitely helped a lot." - Daley

"We have a little chip on our shoulder. Last year wasn't how we wanted it to be." - USA D Maggie Averill

"I had lots of shots, but it was good for me that I had this opportunity, that I know that how the level of this tournament is, and we need to keep going to the next game. We need to recover really fast, and we need to prepare first, mentally, to be ready tomorrow." - Slovakia G Mariana Sumegova

"They're very fast. They're better at every aspect than us. They were quick. They had a lot of shots." - Sumegova

"I always say before the game that I have to give my maximum, 100% every time to help my team. I need to be mentally tough. I need to forget the goals and keep going." - Sumegova

"I was impressed with [her team's] ability to be detailed throughout no matter the score. We really hit that home and I think the playres delivered." - USA coach Courtney Kennedy

"As a team we look at it as a bunch of goals from all of us. We all scored." - Kennedy

"She's diligent in her game and her mind. She stayed strong the whole time." - Kennedy on Stickney

"Those players are so hungry to give themselves the best chance to get into that final game. No matter who we play - we don't care - we just want the opportunity. To see those leaders really step up and and show the way with actions - they're using their body out there and showing them what it looks like is very fun to see and impressive and needed." - Kennedy on the players returning for their second or third U18s.

"It was a big lesson for us as a team. We have a few new girls and now they can see what it takes to be at this level. I hope it's something for them that they can learn from and get ready for the next game and be better." - Slovakia coach Michal Kobezda

"The movement on the ice, the girls from the US are really fast and they were everywhere. We didn't create any offense. The whole game happened in our defensive zone." - Kobezda

Czechia 9, Finland 1

The Finns came out strong, hemming Czechia back in their zone and putting pressure on. The Czechs found their footing a few minutes later, but Finland had some momentum and they struck first on a 5-on-3 power play as Tinja Tapani found the back of the net midway through the first.

But Czechia replied three minutes later to tie the game and scored again in the final minute to take a lead they would not relinquish. Importantly for Finland, they were particularly good on the penalty kill, blocking shots at the top of the zone and keeping the puck to the perimiter. But they failed to build any momentum, got hemmed in and stuggled to clear the puck from the zone. Czechia's second and third goals came shortly after a power play expired and that seemed to be what took the final bit of zip out of how Finland began the game.

And on the other side, Czechia may have started a little timidly, but they shook it off by the end of the first period and then settled in to their game. What they did best as the game went on was push through the defense and find themselves at the net front.

I'll get to this below, but it was great to see new players emerge as top tier for the Czechs. There are fewer players on this roster that women's hockey fans are familiar with, but I can't imagine that's something that will last long. Dana Březinová is playing in her second tournament an dshowed off some sweet moves for the sixth Czech goal and 16-year-old Adéla Mynaříková made her debut with two goals and two assists.

Next up: Czechia plays USA on Sunday at 6 PM local time, 5 PM eastern time. Finland will face Slovakia on Sunday at 1:30 PM local time, 12:30 PM eastern time.

What We Learned:

• New Czech stars – Czechia had several players go from U18 to the senior team and join top-tier NCAA programs over the past two seasons. They've had to find a bit of a new identity but they've risen to the occasion. I think it's fair to say they are solidly the #3 squad. I wasn't sure exactly how teams would shake out this year, but with three games today, I feel pretty confident in that assessment. There's always a transition to the international game and goals aren't easy, no matter how some temas make it look. That there were seven different goal scorers bodes well for what Czechia wants to do here
• Even strength struggles – All of the things that made Finland's penalty kill stand out seemed to disappear the moment they got back to five skaters. On special teams they were angling players outside, blocking shots, keeping the puck to the perimeter and gneerally doing all the things a coach wants. And when they were at even strength, they gave Czech full access to the front of the net and the slot. I don't know why the instinct to force the offense outside went away, but it kept Finland super hemmed in and prevented them from taking advantage of the boards.
• Credit where it's due  – It might no longer be a surprise to see the depth on Czechia and see the roster reload with highly talented players, but that doesn't mean it's not still impressive. What Tereza Sadilová created for girls and women in the Czech hockey federation continues to boggle the mind. It wasn't a flash in the pan. She said she wanted to make sure success was sustained and while that will always be an ongoing fight, it feels like this U18 team is a testament to that work. There is a clear path of development at several age levels and the fact that this team keeps bringing in new, young talent that is immediately impactful is a testament to what has been done.

Standout Performances:

• Czechia F Adéla Mynaříková  – She took two shots and put them both in the back of the net. She also added two assists. In a game where her team looked unsettled at times, she looked poised. She didn't rush the puck, she picked her moments and she used her body well.
• Finland D Viivi-Maija Ruonakoski – There wasn't a ton to love from Finland today, but Ruonakoski was a stalwart. She led the team in time on ice and shift length. She's part of the team's leadership group and

"We talked in the room about the slow start, We just said, let's go out and beat them. It's our first game. We've played them a few times before this tournament, so we had the confidence to know we can beat them. That was important for us." - Czechia F Tereza Gildainová

"We were a bit intimidated at the start we just had to support each other and find that drive to play with the puck and play better." - Czechia F Adéla Mynaříková

"Off ice has played a big part. I practice with our strength and confiditioning coach each week and that played a big role." - Mynaříková on what she's done to improve her game and become a better player this year

"It's very important to have a good mood in the locker room and get the confidnece from the game." - Mynaříková on getting a win on the first day of the tournament

"We were so nervous at the beginning of the game . After the first period they started to play well. They started to believe in themselves. It's important that they learn that if we believe in ourselves and play with confidence we are good." - Czechia coach Dušan Andrašovský

"We need to believe, still, and play our style of play. This is important." Andrašovský on what he wants to see from his team in their next game

"Our legs didn't move. The Czechs came at us too easily and everything collapsed." - Finland D Viivi-Maija Ruonakoski on how things started to come undone after the first period

"The first few minutes was very good and I think the first period was good, but we started out doing what we've been taught. But five of the nine goals were straight attacks." - Finland D Mira Kuisma

"We can't get the puck out of our zone. We have to talk about the blue line." - Kuisma

"We have played good. The November and December tournaments were very good. Our practices have been pretty good. I don't have to worry about the game. What is here (mentally) we have to find some key." - Kuisma

(Photo: Nicole Haase)