2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship: Group stage takeaways, quarterfinal matchups

The group stage of the 2025 IIHF Women’s World Championship is in the books. We have seen exciting games, record-breaking performances and the usual suspects looking like gold-medal favorites.

With the knockout stage set to begin on Thursday, let’s take a look back at some of the big stories from the opening round in České Budějovice.

Americans frustrate Canada

Once again, first place in Group A came down to the result between the United States and Canada. In the highly anticipated matchup between these two teams, the Americans did an excellent job of keeping Canada’s top stars at bay on Sunday. Even though Laura Stacey was able to get Canada on the board in the third period, that was all the reigning gold medalists could give. The U.S. held their rivals to just 19 shots on goal, including seven in the third period when Canada tried to tie the game, leading to a 2-1 victory for last year’s silver medalists.

It’s hard to say that this game is a foreshadowing of what will take place at the end of the tournament, as the winner of the preliminary-round matchup has lost in the gold medal game in the past two years. However, if these two teams meet for all the marbles (again), and the youthful, yet experienced American blue line stifles Canada again, we’ll have another changing of the guard.

P.S. I’m so happy they’re getting rid of this format next year. I’d rather have these group-stage games actually matter.

A Knight’s Tale

The United States seemingly ran away with first place in Group A. Outside of their encounter with Canada, the red, white and blue hardly had a blemish in the opening round of the tournament. Led by captain Hilary Knight and longtime linemate Alex Carpenter, the U.S. scored 18 goals in the group stage, the most among the 10 teams in Czechia.

Knight’s performance in the first four games led to her making more history. With three assists in the group stage finale against Switzerland on Tuesday, she reached 50 helpers in her Women’s Worlds career, surpassing Hockey Hall of Famer for the most assists in the tournament’s history.

The Boston Fleet captain now has the most goals (67) and points (117) at the world championships. Knight and Carpenter tied for the team with six points apiece.

The Victoire Line

Canada’s most effective line so far has been a trio that has grown accustomed to playing with each other in the PWHL. Captain Marie-Philip Poulin, Laura Stacey and rookie Jennifer Gardiner were put together by head coach Kori Chevrie with the Montreal Victoire. The camaraderie the line built during the regular season has carried into the Women’s Worlds, as Canada bench boss Troy Ryan realized it’d be best to keep them together.

It has paid dividends in the tournament. A healthy Poulin has driven the offense for Canada, leading all skaters with eight points in four games, and is tied with Gardiner and Sweden’s Ebba Hedqvist for the lead in goals with three. “The Victoire Line” combined for eight of Canada’s 17 goals in the group stage. It’ll be interesting to see if that line keeps clicking the knockout round.

Is Sweden for real?

With the current “ranking” groups, we’ve always wondered if there would ever be a team from Group B that could cause a stir in the knockout round. However, it’s been a rare sight. Since the tournament expanded to 10 teams in 2019, a team from the lower group has only advanced to the semifinals once.

However, in the final year of this format, Sweden might be able to do some damage.

Damkronorna has had talented teams in recent years but has not been able to win Group B. That changed this time around, when the team with a balanced attack took care of its opponents in its first four games, finishing first place in Group B for the first time since 2016. Linnea Johansson led the charge with six points, while Hilda Svensson and Sara Hjalmarsson were offensive catalysts in their four wins.

With a seemingly “favorable” matchup with Finland in the quarterfinals, Sweden arguably has the better goaltender in Emma Söderberg. If the international veteran can steal a game, the Swedes could be heading to the final four for the first time since 2009.

It’s worth remembering that Sweden was one goal away from stunning Canada in the quarterfinals in 2023, losing in overtime in Brampton.

Can Japan compete without Shiga?

Japan had an impressive run in the opening round, only falling to Sweden on their way to a 3-0-0-1 record. Japan’s second-place finish in Group B marked the first time in four years that the team has won three games in the group stage.

However, in the 1-0 win over Germany in the preliminary-round finale, the Japanese were dealt an enormous blow. Late in the first period, forward Akane Shiga was tripped by German netminder Sandra Abstreiter, sending the Luleå HF/MSSK forward hard into the enboards. Shiga was seen grabbing her left leg and had to be stretchered off the ice. She was taken to a nearby hospital for further evaluation.

With the former PWHL Ottawa member out of action and a looming matchup with Canada, many are concerned if Japan is going to be able to put up a fight. While Shiga isn’t the team’s leading scorer, her ability to create scoring chances from almost nothing had been giving teams problems. Her absence was noticeable on Tuesday, and you know it’s going to feel even larger on Thursday.

One and done

As has become the norm at the Women’s Worlds, the teams that have finished at the bottom of Group B are automatically relegated to the D1A World Championship, unlike the World Juniors, where teams get to play to stay in the top division.

This year’s victims are teams who just got here. Hungary was back for the first time in two years, while Norway was in the top tier for the first time since 1997. Hungary battled hard against the likes of Sweden, Japan and Germany. However, losing to Norway sealed their fate. With just one goal, the Hungarians finished 10th in the overall standings.

Norway had much more of an offensive push, powered by the creative Andrea Dalen, who potted two goals, with Sarah Millie Rose leading the team with three points. The Polar Bears scored seven goals in four games, more than what Switzerland and Czechia could muster up in the group stage.

Yet, despite both nations’ fight, and thanks to the poor format, they will have to go back and try to win their way up to the top next year.

Quarterfinal matchups

Finland vs. Sweden (4 a.m. ET)

Why not start off with a battle between Scandinavian rivals? Finland had a horrendous opening portion of their schedule, having to face the U.S. and Canada on back-to-back days. However, they rebounded with a big win over Czechia before taking down Switzerland.

On the other side, Sweden is trying to prove that it belongs with the big dogs. In the team’s best performance in a long time, they have the tools to pull off an upset.

Finland is trying to make it to the semifinals for the second year in a row. Finland beat Sweden in their last meeting at the Women’s Worlds during the 2023 group stage.

Germany vs. United States (7:30 a.m. ET)

This is a tough draw for Germany. Though they played well enough to advance to the quarterfinals for the third year in a row, their reward is going up against the mighty Americans. If they want any shot of winning, they will need last year’s top goaltender, Sandra Abstreiter, to play the game of her life. The U.S. is just too strong and too deep for Träger der Adler to keep up.

The U.S. has never lost in the knockout stage before the gold medal game. The only time Germany advanced to the semifinals was in 2017.

Switzerland vs. Czechia (11 a.m. ET)

This is a rather spooky matchup. The hosts got the better of Switzerland in the group stage, as Klára Peslarová’s heroics helped give Czechia a 3-0 win on the opening day of the tournament. However, the Czechs ended up losing the next three games, spiraling to a fourth-place finish in Group A.

If the Swiss can get the goaltending that we know Andrea Brändli, they might be able to sneak away with a win. Their veteran scorer, Lara Stalder, has missed the last two games due to an illness, putting the pressure on Alina Müller. If they can get one or two on Czechia on Thursday, it might be enough to the semis for the fourth time in five years.

Czechia has won the last three meetings with the Swiss at the Women’s Worlds.

Japan vs. Canada (2:30 p.m. ET)

After watching how a ticked-off Canada buried Czechia in their final group stage game on Monday, you almost have to be scared for Japan. Already shorthanded without Akane Shiga, if Canada picks up where they left off at the end of the group stage, it’s going to be a long game for the Japanese.

The only way the game stays close is if Japanese netminder Miyuu Masuhara plays out of her mind. The international veteran picked up two shutouts in the opening round, giving the team as much confidence as possible heading into the quarters.

Canada has never lost a quarterfinal game, while Japan has never made it to the semifinals at the Women’s Worlds.

All games on Thursday will be broadcast on NHL Network and TSN (1 and 4).

MORE WOMEN’S HOCKEY

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