Women's Ice Hockey Tournament at the Winter Olympic Games 2018

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Updated as of February 12th, 2017

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Olympic schedule released

Games set for men’s, women’s tournaments

 

The dates and matchups for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games ice hockey events have been set with the release of both the men’s and women’s tournament schedules.

 

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, officially kick off with the Opening Ceremony on 9th February. The games for the men’s and women’s tournaments will be split up between the newly-constructed Gangneung Hockey Centre, which can hold up ot 10,000 spectators, and the 6,000 capacity Kwandong Hockey Centre.

 

The Gangneung arena will host the majority of the men’s hockey games, as well as both gold medal games. The Kwandong arena will house all the women’s games with the exception of the semi-finals and the final.

The puck drops on the first ice hockey game at PyeongChang 2018 on 10 February, with a women’s game between Japan and Sweden, set for 16:40 local time (GMT+9) at the Kwandong Hockey Centre. Tournament hosts Korea follow up with an evening game against Switzerland at 21:10.

2014 gold medallist Canada’s women’s national team will play its first game on 11 February, taking on Russia. They will close out the preliminary round against their perennial rivals the United States on 15 February. Team USA will come into the Olympic tournament as the favourites, having won every IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship since losing to Canada in a thrilling overtime gold medal final at Sochi 2014. 

The women’s gold medal game is scheduled for 22 February at 13:10 at the Guangneung Hockey Centre. The bronze medal game happens the day before at 16:40 in Kwandong.

 

Click below to access the full schedule for men´s tournament:

Womens Tournament Schedule and Results

 

 

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ROAD TO PYEONGCHANG

 

November 2017 International Break

Review

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Team USA does not disappoint

Americans undefeated at Four Nations Cup

The Four Nations Cup wrapped up Sunday at Amalie Arena in Tampa with host team USA beating Canada 5-1 in the final. Russia won a tournament on home ice.

 

The two final games played at the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning were capping a week of round robin games between the United States, Canada, Sweden, and Finland that started at the Florida Hospital Center Ice Complex in Wesley Chapel, Florida.

 

In the first game, Finland beat Sweden 2-1 in overtime. The win boosted Finland to a third place standing in the tournament.

 

“We were pleased with the result and wanted to win since it was our last game of the tournament,” captain Jenni Hiirkoski said. “These games are always tough. Our goal was to get that last win. It doesn’t matter how it comes, we were happy about the result.”

 

It was a closely contested first period as both teams traded opportunities but were unable to get on the scoreboard until Finland got through with 14.9 remaining. Hiirikoski scored an even strength goal to make it 1-0. The Finnish captain picked up her own rebound from a wraparound and backhanded it home.

 

Sweden was unable to get on track in the second period, generating scant few chances. They were limited to one shot on goal over the first ten minutes. But then at 10:58 they brought the game level when Erika Grahm redirected a shot from Emma Nordin into the net.

 

Pernilla Winberg also picked up an assist. The goal was scored on the power play as Isa Rahunen was off for slashing and Rosa Lindstedt for interference.

 

“We got a good confidence booster out of that,” said Winberg. “We continued playing tough and I think they got a little frustrated and took some penalties.”

 

With 1:42 remaining in the second, Sweden would have a 5-on-3 power play advantage for 1:17. They used the time to patiently set up and get high percentage shots on goal but Meeri Raisanen, who started in goal for Finland, was up to the task.

 

The score remained tied 1-1 through the third period. Both goaltenders were strong and capably handled the offensive pressure they faced. Swedish netminder Sara Grahn was easily one of the best performers on her team.

 

“Sara was outstanding and always doing well in net,” Winberg observed. “It is always good having her in net for us.”

 

The game went to a ten-minute overtime where Finland controlled much of the extra frame. When Johanna Olofsson was sent off for roughing, the Finnish power play was given the chance to operate. Petra Nieminen and Susanna Tapani moved the puck and created scoring opportunities. Finally, Nieminen scored with three seconds remaining on the penalty. Nieminen picked up a loose puck in front of the net after Linda Valimaki’s shot was saved by Grahn. She set it to the back of the net for the deciding marker.

 

“I saw the puck there and the goal was empty and so I had that moment to take it and shoot it. Luckily, it went in,” Nieminen said of the game winner.

 

In the final game, the United States and Canada battled for the second time in a week and once again the Americans came out on top. Previously, the United States defeated Canada 4-2 at the Florida Hospital Center Ice in their second game of preliminary round play.

Team USA won all four of its games in the tournament earning the tournament championship and first place finish.

 

“Every win is a step in the right direction and it gives us momentum, confidence, and energy.” Captain Meghan Duggan said after the game. “We take each game very seriously regardless of opponent. We want to get better in every game. Coming out of this tournament 4-0 and capturing the championship feels good.”

 

Hannah Brandt’s two second-period goals 1:43 apart established a lead that Team USA would not relinquish.

 

“For Hannah Brandt to step up and get us going brought a lot of energy to our bench,” Duggan said of her teammate. “She did a fantastic job. She’s a goal scorer at heart and a ton of goal scoring ability. Glad she got rewarded tonight with those goals.”

 

These long-time rivals closed the first period scoreless even though there were some good opportunities on both sides. The Americans did not start the game in their usual dominant manner here at the Four Nations Cup, but halfway through they were able to turn up the effort.

 

“Sometimes in games like these against a familiar opponent you are feeling each other out,” Duggan said. “We had to be patient and wait for things to happen, things to open up in our favor. Everything we do is with a purpose.”

 

Kendall Coyne skated in on a breakaway two-and-a-half minutes into the game but was stopped. Bailey Bram had a good chance for Canada hitting the post in the closing seconds of the period. Shots in the first were 8-7 in Canada’s favour.

 

Canada had two prime odd man opportunities but USA goaltender Maddie Rooney held her ground. A two-on-one lead to a Jillian Saulnier shot going stick side was saved and a three-on-one yielded a shot by Jennifer Wakefield that was also turned away.

 

USA finally broke through when Brandt scored to make it 1-0. She held the puck as a two-on-one unfolded in front of the net. Brandt took her time, faking a possible pass across to Amanda Kessel, but instead rifling the shot past goaltender Genevieve Lacasse.

 

Brandt added another just under two minutes later. The goal came on the power play. Team USA would carry this two-goal lead into the third period.

 

Not to be outdone, Canada cut the lead in half while Kelly Pannek sat in the box. A one-timer by Meghan Agosta off a precision pass from Brigette Lacquette got Canada on the board. The power play goal came at 10:42.

 

The Americans turned up their intensity in the third as Hilary Knight, Amanda Kessel and Coyne added goals for good measure to extend USA’s lead to 5-1. Coyne’s goal came with seventeen seconds remaining in the game.

 

Dani Cameranesi assisted on three goals on the afternoon.

 

“We have to see where things went wrong and break down our game,” said Natalie Spooner of Canada’s effort. “We needed to do better. We had a lot of chances that we could have buried and turned things around. Looking forward, we have to capitalize on our opportunities.”

 

Team USA fared well in this tournament, a warmup before the 2018 Winter Olympics. They got balanced scoring from their forward lines and strong defence. Brandt and defender Emily Pfalzer enjoyed strong tournaments. Pfalzer tied for second on the team in scoring and contributed three goals to the cause. Both skaters are vying for a spot with Team USA at the Olympics.

 

“It would be an incredible honour to represent this team at the Olympics and to play against my sister would be even more special,” Brandt said of the possibility in suiting up in February.

 

Brandt’s adopted sister Marissa was born in Korea and will represent the host country.

 

Russia wins on home ice

 

Some of the nations ranked behind these four teams played the Halloween Cup in Dmitrov in the Moscow Region. Host Russia ended up on top of the standings before Switzerland same as one year ago when the tournament was hosted in Germany.

 

Russia had a strong start with wins against the Czech Republic (3-1) and Germany (6-1) before facing Switzerland on the last day, which also had six points from its games against Germany (5-2) and the Czechs (1-0).

 

After a scoreless opening frame it was Anna Shokhina, who opened the scoring for Russia three minutes into the second period. With 2:48 left before the intermission Lyudmila Belyakova made it 2-0 and midway the third period the Russians captialized on a power play with the 3-0 marker from Lidia Malyavko.

 

Denmark succeeds in OT

 

Denmark beat host Hungary 4-3 in overtime to win the Four Nations tournament in Miskolc. Both teams entered the last day with two regulation-time wins and Denmark went off to a strong start in a game they dominated with 40-20 shots on goal but was not rewarded at first.

 

Fanni Gasparics gave Hungary the lead at 11:35 on a 5-on-3 power play before Michele Brix Nielsen tied it up before the intermission. The Danes got the lead first time at 17:57 of the second period with a Josefine Jakobsen goal but Averi Nooren tied it up for Hungary early in the third. Also a 3-2 lead for Denmark after a marker from Silke Glud didn’t last long. Alexandra Huszak scored with 3:02 left in regulation time to force overtime. 2:11 into the extra period Jakbsen scored the tournament-winning goal.

 

Olympic host Korea, which has played in the fourth tier of the IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship program, for the first time played in this tournament. It was at a higher level than they’re used to and while the team started with two losses against Hungary (3-1) and Denmark (4-1), the Asians had a feeling of success on the last day when they beat France 3-1 – especially considering that France, winless this year, won the tournament one year ago and is ranked nine spots ahead of Korea in the IIHF Women’s World Ranking. After an early French lead it was Jingyu Lee, Selin Kim and Suyeong Eom, who scored for the Koreans.

 

In other tests by women’s senior national teams Slovakia won two games in Katowice against host Poland while Norway won two games in Finland against club teams from the top league.

 

 

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First Olympic participants

IIHF names refs, linesmen for PyeongChang 2018

 

The IIHF Council has confirmed the referees and linesmen who will officiate at the men’s and women’s ice hockey tournaments of the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.

 

In total 47 on-ice officials from 13 different countries got the call for the 2018 Olympics.

 

The 12-team men’s tournament will be handled by 14 referees and 14 linesmen. The eight-team women’s tournament will be officiated by 10 referees and nine linesmen.

 

In numbers the list is led by the United States with seven on-ice officials followed by Finland and Sweden with six each. Canada, the Czech Republic and Switzerland will send five each to the Olympics.

 

Several of the on-ice officials have experience from Sochi 2014. Among the referees Antonin Jerabek and Konstantin Olenin have been part of the crew on Sochi 2014 while Nicole Hertrich and Aina Hove even bring in the experience of two Olympics and eight Women’s World Championships as they were also in Vancouver 2010. Also on the ice in Vancouver 2010 was Nikoleta Celarova, however, not as a referee but as a player for the Slovak women’s team.

 

For most of the referees and linesmen it will be the first Olympic Winter Games after several men’s and women’s World Championships under the belt. In total the officials combine for 134 World Championship participations. But everybody who performs well had the chance to make it as the example of French linesman Charlotte Girard shows, who hasn’t officiated at the Olympic or senior top-level Women’s World Championship before.

 

2018 Olympic women's ice hockey tournament
Referees			Linesmen
Ariano-Lortie, Gabrielle			Todd, Justine
Hertrich, Nicole			Svobodova, Zuzana
Hove, Aina			Heikkinen, Jenni
Fialova, Drahomira			Tauriainen, Johanna
Celarova, Nikoleta			Girard, Charlotte
Gran, Gabriella			Linnek, Lisa
Timglas, Katarina			Pagon, Natasa
Allen, Dina			Johansson, Veronica
Guay, Katie			Leclerc, Jessica
Szkola, Melissa

 

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ROAD TO PYEONGCHANG

 

December 2017 International Break

Review

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Russians impress in Finland

Host comes second in Olympic warm-up

 

Russia’s women tuned up for their Olympic campaign with victory in a five-nation Pre-Olympic tournament in Finland over the weekend.

 

 

Alexei Chistyakov’s team won three out of four games in Rauma, only losing out in a dead rubber against the host nation on the final day.

The Red Machine made short work of Sweden in its opening game, easing to a 4-1 victory after Valeria Pavlova scored twice in the first six minutes. Pavlova went on to finish with three goals in the tournament, second only to Sweden’s Hanna Olsson in the scoring charts.

Next, Chistyakov’s team recorded a 3-1 success over Germany before a tight battle against Japan was decided by Nina Pirogova’s second-period goal. The Finns, defeated by Sweden earlier in the competition, needed a regulation-time win over Germany to keep the tournament alive going into the final day’s play, but tied 2-2 before claiming a shootout success.

 

That didn’t stop the host picking itself up and blanking Russia in the final game of the tournament. A shutout from Noora Raty and a lively performance from the Finnish offence secured a 3-0 victory with goals from Michelle Karvinen, Linda Valimaki and Noora Tulus. That gave Finland second place overall, with Sweden one point further back in third. Germany’s shootout win over Japan helped to condemn the Japanese to last place in the group.

 

Olsson topped the scoring with 6 (4+2) points, ahead of Pavlova. Finland’s Jenni Hiirikoski also picked up four points, while Karvinen got three from just two games.

 

Olympic preparations will continue in December for Russia and Japan: the two nations are set to play a pair of exhibition matches in the Far East on 24 and 25 December.

 

Switzerland, inspired by goalie Florence Schelling, enjoyed an impressive victory in a Four Nations tournament in the Czech Republic.

 

The Swiss gave up just one goal in three games, with Schelling repelling 96.43% of the shots she faced as her team showed its strength ahead of February’s action in Korea.

 

Switzerland began with a 2-0 win over Norway thanks to goals from Alina Muller and Evelina Raselli. Three first period goals set up a 4-0 victory against France in the second game, and it wasn’t until early in the second period of game three that Schelling was finally beaten. Klara Hymlarova scored for the Czechs, but could not prevent a 3-1 loss. Muller finished the event with three goals from three games, Laura Benz had 1+2 and Phoebe Staenz contributed a trio of assists.

 

The other three nations, none of which will be involved in Korea, proved evenly matched and finished the tournament tied on three points. Norway enjoyed the biggest win, shooting down the Czechs 5-2 with Andrea Dalen contributing 1+2. But it also suffered a 3-1 loss against France, with Emmanuelle Passard scoring twice as the French recovered from losing an early goal.

 

The home team enjoyed its only victory of the event on the opening day, edging France 2-1. Alena Polenska snapped a 1-1 tie midway through the third period; Hymlarova had an assist on the winning goal.

 

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  TEAM CANADA 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Ann-Renée Desbiens (La Malbaie, Que./University of Wisconsin, WCHA),
• Geneviève Lacasse (Kingston, Ont./Calgary, CWHL),
• Shannon Szabados (Edmonton, Alberta)

Defencers:

• Renata Fast (Burlington, Ont./Toronto, CWHL),
• Laura Fortino (Hamilton, Ont./Markham, CWHL),
• Brigette Lacquette (Mallard, Man./Calgary, CWHL),
• Jocelyne Larocque (Ste. Anne, Man./Markham, CWHL),
• Meaghan Mikkelson (St. Albert, Alta./Calgary, CWHL),
• Lauriane Rougeau (Beaconsfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL)

Forwards:

• Meghan Agosta (Ruthven, Ont.),
• Bailey Bram (Ste. Anne, Man./Calgary, CWHL),
• Emily Clark (Saskatoon, Sask./University of Wisconsin, WCHA),
• Mélodie Daoust (Valleyfield, Que./Montreal, CWHL),
• Haley Irwin (Thunder Bay, Ont./Calgary, CWHL),
• Brianne Jenner (Oakville, Ont./Calgary, CWHL),
• Rebecca Johnston (Sudbury, Ont./Calgary, CWHL)
• Sarah Nurse (Hamilton, Ont./University of Wisconsin, WCHA),
• Marie-Philip Poulin (Beauceville, Que./Montreal, CWHL),
• Jillian Saulnier (Halifax/Calgary, CWHL),
• Natalie Spooner (Scarborough, Ont./Toronto, CWHL),
• Laura Stacey (Kleinburg, Ont./Markham, CWHL),
• Blayre Turnbull (Stellarton, N.S./Calgary, CWHL),
• Jennifer Wakefield (Pickering, Ont./Linköping HC, )

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  TEAM UNITED STATES 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Nicole Hensley (Lindenwood University, CHA)
• Alex Rigsby (Minnesota Whitecaps)
• Maddie Rooney (University of Minnesota Duluth)

Defencers:

• Lee Stecklein (University of MInnesota, WCHA)
• Cayla Barnes (Boston College, HEA)
• Megan Keller (Boston College, HEA)
• Kali Flanagan (Boston Vollege, HEA)
• Emily Pfalzer (Buffalo Beauts, NWHL)
• Kacey Bellamy (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Sidney Morin (MODO Hockey, )

Forwards:

• Monique Lamoureux-Morando (Minnesota Whitecaps)
• Meghan Duggan (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Haley Skarupa (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Kelly Panek (University of Minnesota)
• Brianna Decker (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson (Minnesota Whitecaps)
• Gigi Marvin (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Hannah Brandt (Minnesota Whitecaps)
• Hilary Knight (Boston Pride, NWHL)
• Dani Cameranesi (University of Minnesota, WCHA)
• Kendall Coyne (Minnesota Whitecaps)
• Amanda Kessel (New York Riveters, NWHL)
• Amanda Pelkey (Boston Pride, NWHL)

[Agger 1,663]

 TEAM SWEDEN 

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Sara Grahn (Brynäs)
• Sarah Berglind (Modo)
• Minatsu Murase (AIK)

Defencers:

• Emilia Ramboldt (Linköping)
• Annie Svedin (Modo)
• Johanna Olofsson (Modo)
• Johanna Fällman (Luleå)
• Maja Nylén Persson (Leksand)
• Elin Lundberg (Leksand)
• Emmy Alasalmi (AIK)

Forwards:

• Anna Borgqvist (Brynäs)
• Erica Udén Johansson (Brynäs)
• Pernilla Winberg (Linköping)
• Emma Nordin (Luleå)
• Rebecca Stenberg (Luleå)
• Erika Grahm (Modo)
• Olivia Carlsson (Modo)
• Hanna Olsson (Djurgården)
• Maria Lindh (Djurgården)
• Lisa Johansson (AIK)
• Sara Hjalmarsson (AIK)
• Sabina Küller (AIK)
• Fanny Rask (HV 71)

Edited January 12, 2018 by Agger

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TEAM JAPAN

 

 

Goaltenders:

• Nana Fujimoto (Vortex Sapporo)
• Mai Kondo (Mikage Gretz)
• Akane Konishi (Seibu Princess Rabbits)

Defencers:

• Mika Hori (Toyota Cygnus)
• Akane Hosoyamada (DK Peregrine)
• Shiori Koike (DK Peregrine)
• Aoi Shiga (Obihiro Ladies)
• Sena Suzuki (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Aina Takeuchi (Daishin)
• Ayaka Toko (Seibu Princess Rabbits)

Forwards:

• Yurie Adachi (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Moeko Fujimoto (Toyota Cygnus)
• Tomomi Iwahara (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Hanae Kubo (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Ami Nakamura (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Shoko Ono (Mikage Gretz)
• Chiho Osawa (DK Peregrine)
• Miho Shishiuchi (Toyota Cygnus)
• Suzuka Taka (DK Peregrine)
• Naho Terashima (Daishin)
• Haruka Toko (Seibu Princess Rabbits)
• Rui Ukita (Daishin)
• Haruna Yoneyama (DK Peregrine)