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Women’s Worlds: Japan forces OT against Czechia, Hungary opens with win

Mike Gould
Mike Gould
Apr 7, 2023, 11:17 EDTUpdated: Apr 8, 2023, 11:20 EDT
Women’s Worlds: Japan forces OT against Czechia, Hungary opens with win
Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

The Japanese national women’s hockey team might just be one of the most underrated programs on the world stage.

Team Japan is a member of Group A at the IIHF Women’s World Championship for the second consecutive year. They more than looked the part on Thursday en route to an extremely close 2–1 overtime loss to Team Czechia.

Of course, the Czechs are not to be trifled with. Even without star goaltender Klara Peslarova, they’re one of the most formidable teams in this year’s Worlds and stand a strong chance of repeating as bronze medallists.

But … Japan gave it a good shot. After Daniela Pejsova, who led the Czechs in scoring at the 2022 Worlds, made it 1–0 for her team late in the first period, Japan successfully held Czechia off the board in the final 40 minutes of regulation.

The third period saw the two teams tie 6–6 in shots. But it was Haruka Toko and Rui Ukita, a pair of longtime national team standbys, who combined for the only goal of the final frame to force overtime in Brampton.

The Czechs ultimately came out on top just 3:16 into the extra frame, when Katerina Mrazova converted during a delayed penalty situation at the side of Miyuu Masuhara’s net.

Reigning Isobel Cup champion Dominika Laskova picked up an assist on the play, as did Noemi Neubauerova. After going a perfect 4–0–0–0 in Group B one year ago, the Czechs have begun their latest stint in Group A with two of a possible three points.

It won’t get any easier from here for both Japan and Czechia, both of whom are staring down matchups with Team Canada straight ahead.

Canada will face the Czechs on Friday before taking on Japan on Saturday. We’ll see if either team can pull off an upset, although the right time to do so — if possible — might be in the elimination stages … stay tuned.

Quick hits

  • We had a ton of fun following Team Hungary’s ultimately successful quest to stave off relegation at the 2022 Worlds, and they got off to a good start at this year’s tournament with a 4–2 win over Team France on Thursday. Alexandra Huszak and Franciska Kiss-Simon, Hungary’s two top scorers in 2022, both had three points in the victory against France. It took four standings points for Hungary to avoid relegation and qualify for the elimination rounds last year, so they’ll probably have to take at least one point off Sweden, Finland, or Germany in the round-robin — although, at this rate, it’s a little difficult to envision France not being the team that ends up going back down to Division IA.
  • For whatever reason, Sweden hasn’t been able to find the same level of consistent success at women’s tournaments as on the men’s side. And even with Emma Soderberg, who memorably made 54 saves against Team Canada in the 2022 quarterfinals, the Swedes dropped their 2023 opener to Team Germany by a 6–2 score on Thursday. Franziska Feldmeier doubled her output from the 2022 tournament with a pair of goals against the Swedes, who actually outshot Germany 33–28 in the loss.

Thursday’s results

Team Germany 6, Team Sweden 2

Team Japan 1, Team Czechia 2 (OT)

Team France 2, Team Hungary 4

Friday’s games

Team Switzerland vs. Team USA — 11:00 a.m. ET

Team Finland vs. Team Germany — 3:00 p.m. ET

Team Czechia vs. Team Canada — 7:00 p.m. ET

All games at CAA Centre in Brampton, Ont.

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